Our 2025 training on the state ABD and HEN benefit programs covered eligibility, how to apply, how to maintain access, and how to overcome common barriers to access.
Thank you to Solid Ground’s Benefits Legal Assistance team for presenting on ABD benefits and thank you to Catholic Community Services’ HEN team for presenting on HEN benefits.
Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) benefits
ABD is a Washington state cash assistance program for qualifying low-income individuals. It is essentially an interim benefit to help people while they pursue Social Security Income (SSI). ABD allows $450 a month per individual or $570 a month per married couple. Recipients of ABD are assigned a facilitator to help them apply for SSI and also receive a referral to the state’s HEN program.
Jump to 00:05:18 to view this section of the training.
ABD eligibility
To be eligible for ABD, you must:
- Be 65 years or older
- Be blind
- Be 18 years or older with a physical or mental disability that keeps you from working for at least 12 months and is not primarily due to substance abuse disorder (medical verification required)
- Meet income and resource requirements (see below)
- Meet citizenship and immigration status requirements
You are NOT eligible for ABD if:
- You receive SSI
- You are eligible for or already receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) benefits (TANF offers a higher benefit and it is advised to get TANF over ABD)
A useful tool to check ABD eligibility is available via Washington Connection here.
ABD Income and resource limits
Income limits for ABD are categorized two ways:
- Earned income
- Unearned income
Earned income is received from a job and has a 50 percent disregard, which means it is divided in half and compared against the income limit for the program to determine eligibility.
For example:
The ABD monthly income limit for a one-person household is $339. Your monthly pay is $650. Half of $650 is $325, which is below the monthly limit. You are eligible for ABD based on your earned income.
Unearned income is income from any other source, including unemployment, Veterans Affairs, or child support. Unearned income is not disregarded. Every dollar of unearned income is counted to determine eligibility.
The resource limit for ABD is $12,000 in liquid resources. This was updated from a $6,000 limit in 2024.
Liquid resources include cash on hand—things that can be sold for money—or money in a checking or savings account.
A household’s only car is not counted toward the ABD resource limit. A second car would be, unless, for example, there’s a specific reason for the second car that’s related to disability needs.
If a person owns their primary residence, the value of that home is not counted toward the $12,000 resource limit.
ABD payback
ABD was built as a loan from the Washington state government to Washington state residents while they seek SSI benefits. Once a person secures SSI, they are expected to repay the state what they received in ABD benefits.
In 2023, a state law passed to suspend repayment practices starting in October 2025. However, in the 2025 state legislative session, the implementation of that law was suspended until 2028. This means people are still required to pay back ABD benefits to the state once they start receiving SSI.
How to apply for ABD
The ABD application process includes three steps:
- Submit an application to DSHS
- Complete a financial interview with DSHS
- Complete an interview with an ABD social worker
Solid Ground recommends that the fastest way to submit an application for ABD is through the Washington Connection website. A person must make an account with a username and password and have an email address where they can receive a verification code. A person can also apply in person at a Community Service Office (CSO) or over the phone at 1-877-501-2233. To find a CSO, use the DSHS website.
In addition to submitting an application, a person must complete a financial interview with DSHS to verify financial eligibility. This interview can happen at the same time as the in-person or phone application but will need to be completed separately—either in person or by phone—if a person applies online. A person who applies online can call DSHS for a same-day interview.
After these two steps are completed, a person must complete an interview with an ABD social worker to assess their disability eligibility. During these interviews, an applicant should be prepared to:
- Tell DSHS about all physical and mental conditions, including ones that seem “minor,” like high blood pressure or nightmares
- Give DSHS the names and addresses of all medical providers seen in the last 90 days including primary care physicians, specialists, emergency rooms, etc.
These interviews with ABD social workers are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The entire ABD application process can be completed in one day. It takes about four hours to complete. If you or your client hopes to complete all three steps in one day, Solid Ground recommends calling as early as possible.
Once these three steps of the ABD application process are complete, a person will sign a consent form to allow DSHS to access their medical records from the last 90 days. Medical records older than 90 days can be used to supplement, but there must be some medical record from the last 90 days to support a person’s disability claim.
If a person doesn’t have medical records from the last 90 days, DSHS will help them get an evaluation, either mental or physical, from a doctor contracted with DSHS.
After the three-step application process is complete, a client has 45 days to get DSHS the necessary medical records to review.
Tips for the application process
- Advocates can attend application interviews with clients. This helps clarify what’s needed, increases client accessibility to the system, and allows more opportunities for the advocate to reduce bureaucratic barriers.
- Advocates can write letters of support to DSHS on behalf of clients. A letter of support can be an effective supplement especially if the advocate is working closely with the client as a case manager.
How ABD defines ‘disability’
ABD acknowledges someone has a disability when they are “unable to work because of a diagnosed physical or mental health impairment that has or is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.”
The definition of “work” is any substantial gainful employment earning or earning less than $1,620 annually.
If a client is working very part time or sporadically, they may still be eligible for ABD because their work is not “substantial.”
Co-occurring disorders
If a client has substance use disorder, they can still apply and be approved for ABD benefits. However, the substance use cannot be a direct cause of their disability, it needs to be co-occurring. Treatment for substance use disorder may be required to keep ABD benefits.
How DSHS confirms disability
DSHS uses medical records from certified health providers in the last 90 days to confirm physical and mental disability. The more records provided, the stronger the application. For example, having 25 to 50 pages of medical records is better than having 10 pages of medical records.
The following types of healthcare providers can provide the diagnosis needed for a physical disability:
- Medical doctor (MD)
- Doctor of osteopathy (DO)
- Doctor of optometry (OD) for visual disorders
- Doctor of podiatry (DP) for foot and ankle disorders
- Physician assistant (PA) for impairments within their licensed scope of practice
- Advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) for impairments within their licensed scope of practice
- Audiologist for impairments of hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and balance disorders within their licensed scope of practice
- Qualified speech-language pathologist, for purposes of establishing speech or language impairments.
The following types of healthcare providers can provide the diagnosis needed for a mental disability:
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) for impairments within their licensed scope of practice
- Physician assistant (PA) for impairments within their licensed scope of practice
- School psychologist
If a client needs help getting or paying for medical records or exams, DSHS must help them.
How DSHS confirms inability to work
Medical records from certified providers also need to include how a client’s impairment impede their ability to work regularly and continuously.
These records can come from the following types of healthcare providers:
- Physician treating you for a mental impairment
- Clinical social worker
- Mental health professional (MHP)
- Naturopath
- Chiropractor
- Physical therapist
- Chemical dependency professional (CDP)
Common reasons ABD is denied
ABD is most commonly denied when DSHS doesn’t receive the right medical information. This can be either the medical records are too old or they are missing some of the necessary elements, such as how the diagnosis impedes the client’s ability to work.
ABD is also commonly denied when DSHS doesn’t receive the client’s medical records within 45 days of the client’s application.
When to appeal and when to re-apply
If you think DSHS incorrectly denied the benefits, you should request an appeal. If you are appealing, contact Solid Ground’s Benefits Legal Assistance team.
You should reapply if you think DSHS correctly denied you, but your situation has changed.
How to avoid common pitfalls
- Ask for an Equal Access Plan (EAP) from DSHS. An EAP is tailored to a client’s specific needs to provide a variety of accommodations. An EAP can request phone call notifications instead of notifications in the physical mail, for instance, to accommodate a client who is blind or without a place to receive mail.
- If it makes sense, designate an Authorized Representative, or a secondary person, to represent a client. This Representative can get paperwork on a client’s behalf, call and ask questions on a client’s behalf, and request a hearing on a client’s behalf.
- Report changes of circumstance (household income, household size, or resources) to DSHS within 10 days of that change.
- Comply with any treatment requirements from DSHS, such as substance abuse disorder treatment.
What to do if something goes wrong
If you think your client has had ABD benefits denied unfairly, reduced, terminated, or an overpayment was issued, request a hearing.
Request a hearing by calling DSHS Customer Service and saying, “I request a hearing for this decision.” You can also call the Office of Hearing Administration.
- DSHS Customer Service: 1-877-501-2233
- Office of Hearing Administration: 360-407-2700 or 800-583-8271
Requesting a hearing preserves a client’s right to potentially have their ABD benefits continued. You have 90 days from the decision date to request a hearing. If you request a hearing within 10 days of the decision being reviewed, ABD benefits are prolonged during the appeal process. If the tenth day falls on a weekend or holiday, you have until the next business day to ask for a fair hearing to get continued benefits.
Housing and Essential Needs benefits
Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) is a statewide program funded by the Washington Department of Commerce. Every county in Washington has a HEN program. Services are provided through a network of homeless and homeless prevention service providers.
Catholic Community Services of Western Washington (CCS) manages HEN in King County. There are currently 12,024 people eligible for HEN in King County and 1,813 people in King County enrolled in the program.
Jump to 1:04:52 to view this section of the training.
HEN provides access to essential needs items, transportation assistance, and potentially rental or utility assistance for low-income adults who are:
- Temporarily unable to work (for at least 90 days) due to a physical and/or mental incapacity
- Eligible for Aged, Blind, or Disabled cash assistance
- On the Pregnant Women’s Program
HEN eligibility
HEN eligibility is determined by DSHS. HEN is only available to people 18 years old and older or emancipated youth. People must also meet citizenship and alien status requirements.
HEN income limits are the same as ABD:
- $339 a month for a one-person household
- $428 a month for a two-person household
How to apply for HEN
Once an individual is approved for ABD through DSHS, they will automatically get a referral to the HEN program from DSHS. Once they have that referral, they can visit a CCS office or call the CCS HEN Resource Line: 206-328-5755.
CCS will do a quick eligibility check and then ask the client to complete a brief enrollment questionnaire. Access to HEN benefits follows immediately.
If someone reaches out to the HEN program before they receive a referral, they will be redirected to DSHS to apply for ABD.
What HEN provides
HEN provides immediate access to a fully subsidized ORCA Lyft annual pass. About 200 ORCA Lyft cards are distributed each month through HEN.
HEN also provides clients with a monthly essential needs bag, which is about $70 worth of hygiene and cleaning supplies. Currently, about 205 of these bags are distributed a week at four service sites.
If a client wants, they can sign up for HEN’s rental assistance interest list. If rental assistance becomes available, a HEN case manager will reach out to clients on this list. There’s a separate intake process to approve rental assistance that requires additional paperwork.
Monthly rental assistance
When available, HEN provides combined rental and utility assistance to clients. There is currently no deadline for receiving this assistance as long as a client is still receiving ABD.
The amount of monthly rent and utility assistance a client can receive is determined by type of living situation:
- Up to $1,119 for renting an apartment (client is on lease)
- Up to $700/month for renting a room with private amenities (client is on lease)
- Up to $400 for renting a room with shared space or living with friend or family, not on lease.
Rent and utility payments are made directly to landlords. It is not a cash grant.
Depending on the client’s living situation, they also have access to move-in funds and past due rent and utility assistance. These are both renewable every two years.
HEN programs that offer rental assistance
There are three main programs that offer rental assistance through the HEN program:
- Homeless Prevention Services
- Homeless Services Program
- HEN Stability Program
The Homeless Prevention Services program is for people who need rental support to stay stably housed. Case managers in this program do NOT provide wraparound services but work with clients and landlords to get housing documents and troubleshoot various situations. The Homeless Prevention Services program currently serves around 90-100 individuals.
The Homeless Services Program is for people currently unhoused trying to move into housing. Case managers from this program help remove barriers to housing, including supportive housing. This program currently serves about 65-75 individuals.
The HEN Stability Program is for clients who obtain SSI or SSDI. Approximately one third of HEN clients are currently on this program. This program is statewide but not directly funded. The County decides how many people this program can serve. Requirements for this program are:
- Client must be enrolled in the HEN Prevention or HEN Homeless Services program with HEN paying the client’s rent
- Client cannot be in subsidized housing
- Client has a monthly income below 30 percent of the Area Median Income (currently $2,400 for a one-person household)
- Client needs continued support to stay stably housed
Staying eligible for HEN
CCS’s HEN program does an eligibility check every 90 days. If a client is ineligible, they may still receive 90 more days of service, which allows the client to go back to DSHS to become re-eligible. If a client becomes ineligible due to obtaining SSI or SSDI, CCS will scan the client for eligibility for the HEN-Stability program.
Clients on HEN must check in with CCS every 90 days to confirm their contact information and living situation. If a client does not meet the 90-day check-in requirement, CCS is required to hold their rent assistance. Clients who don’t check in receive a letter and are contacted by their HEN case manager to try and re-engage. Clients have an additional 90 days to check in before they are exited from the HEN program by default.
Limitations of HEN
HEN is not set up to support clients with higher needs. Due to high caseloads, HEN can only provide light housing navigation to folks living unhoused. HEN provides light to moderate case management.
HEN cannot provide rental assistance to people living in subsidized housing or people who own their home. However, HEN may still be able to provide one-time assistance and monthly essential needs bags to these clients.
The CCS HEN program cannot serve folks who live outside of King County. CCS’ HEN program can also NOT serve anyone who is NOT eligible for HEN.
HEN referrals
The HEN program refers clients to the following programs:
- CReW (Counseling, Recovery, and Wellness) program
- Tenant Law Center
- Housing Connector
- Foundational Community Support (FCS)
HEN King County service locations
HEN Resource Line for new and existing clients: (206) 328-5755, HENKC@ccsww.org
HEN Services & EN Bag pick up for existing clients:
- Randolph Carter Center, 100 23rd Ave, 98144 (Central District). Mon through Fri, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (call Resource Line from Lobby phone)
- Phoenix Center, 2329 Rainier Ave S., 98144 (Central District). Tues-Wed-Thurs, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Kent Family Center, 1225 W. Smith Street, Kent. Mon, Weds, Fri: 9am – 4 p.m., Tues, Thurs: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Walk-in hours effective 10/8/2025.
Our next training is on Social Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) with Benefits Law Center. Please join us on Tuesday, October 28 from 9-11 a.m. over Zoom to learn SSI and SSDI eligibility requirements, how to apply for benefits, and how to avoid common barriers to access. Register here.