2051 Eligibility | ADMINISTRATION-5600-MANUAL

To be a program participant or recipient of Older Americans Act (OAA) services administered through the Georgia Division of Aging Services, person should be adults age 60 and over residing within the State of Georgia. There is no requirement for having had that residence within Georgia for any length of time prior to seeking services. Specific programs may have slight deviations or priority categories established in law or regulation, which are listed below or in the associated program manuals.

Title III: Basic eligibility for most Older Americans Act programs is that adults age 60 and over are eligible for services. However, the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III requires programs to target or prioritize service to specific older individuals, namely those:

Refer to MAN 5300, Home and Community Based Services for specifics regarding prioritization of individuals.

The following specific populations of family caregivers are eligible to receive services under Title III-E, the National Family Caregiver Support Program:

Title V: Adults age 55 or older whose family income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guideline, who live in a county that the Georgia SCSEP serves, and are unemployed are eligible to apply for participation in the SCSEP program. The number of spots available for participants varies constantly based upon appropriate training locations and number of current program participants. Refer to MAN 5300, Home and Community Based Services, Section 400 for specifics regarding SCSEP.

Title VII: Title VII of the Older Americans Act funds two primary programs in the Aging Network, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) and the Elder Legal Assistance Program (ELAP).

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program works to improve the quality of life of residents of long-term care facilities in Georgia by acting as their independent advocate. This includes residents of nursing homes, personal care homes (also called assisted living), intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICF/MR), and community living arrangements (CLAs). Ombudsman staff and volunteers informally investigate and resolve complaints on behalf of residents. Refer to MAN 5100A and 5100B for more information on LTCOP.

The Georgia Elderly Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) serves persons 60 years of age and older by providing legal representation, information, and education in civil legal matters throughout the state of Georgia. Services are provided by legal providers throughout the state, who contract with the state’s twelve Area Agencies on Aging. Refer to MAN 5200 for more information on ELAP.

Adults with disabilities (age 18 and over) and elder persons (age 65 and older), present in Georgia, who are not residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs), who are the subject of a report of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation under the Disabled Adults and Elder Persons Protection Act (DAEPPA) O.C.G.A §30-5-1, et. seq. are eligible for Adult Protective Services. Refer to MAN 5500, Adult Protective Services, for specifics.

Adults 18 years or older who have been adjudicated by a Probate Court in Georgia to meet the legal requirements for appointment of a guardian and the Department of Human Services has been appointed guardian of last resort pursuant to O.C.G.A. §29-4-3(b.1). DHS will continue to serve as guardian of last resort until such time as the adult regains capacity and has rights restored by a court, until a willing and capable successor guardian is identified and appointed by a court, or until the person under guardianship passes away.

Aging Services participants who are not currently approved for Medicaid may be referred to the appropriate agency for Medicaid eligibility determination. These agencies are as follows:

These agencies will determine Medicaid eligibility which includes, but is not limited to, verification of citizenship, disability, income, and resources.

Refer to MAN 3480, Medicaid (DFCS) for more information.