1. (a) Exempt Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Security Income recipients from financial need assessment/requirements.
2. (b) The individual must apply for comparable benefits, and documentation of benefits must be placed in the ECF, i.e., award letter/student financial aid grant.
3. (c) The RS-16 Financial Resources form must be completed by the time the IPE is developed.
4. (d) For those individuals or the parents of individuals under the age of twenty-three (23) not exempt as recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Security Income, the counselor will verify income by requesting income tax returns, copies of earnings statements, student financial aid grant summary, or the individual may be required to request their earnings history from the Social Security Administration.
5. (e) Any available benefits will be utilized and must be considered in the provision of services.
6. (f) Other than diagnostic services, no authorizations will be issued until financial need is verified.

7. (g)

   1. (1) In all instances where the student financial aid is utilized, the counselor will utilize the basic cost of education reported from the school that the individual will attend.

   2. (2) The applicable student financial aid categories are:

      1. (A) Dependent;
      2. (B) On campus;
      3. (C) Dependent off campus; and
      4. (D) Independent.

   3. (3) The basic costs may include:

      1. (A) Tuition;
      2. (B) Books;
      3. (C) Fees;
      4. (D) Room and board;
      5. (E) Supplies; and
      6. (F) Transportation.
8. (h) Financial need should be reassessed and a RS-16 Financial Resource form completed at annual review or at any time the individual’s financial situation changes.

Codification Notes: “ECF” means electronic case file. "IPE" means individualized plan for employment.