Sec. 35.003.  ELIGIBILITY.  (a)  The department's rules must provide that an applicant for assistance is eligible to receive assistance if the applicant resides in this state and meets the department's eligibility criteria for income and need. A family or a person with a disability living independently may apply for assistance.
(b)  The department shall determine in accordance with department rules eligibility for support services from the results of current evaluations, program plans, and medical reports.  Those documents shall be provided to the department on request.  The department, if it considers necessary, shall provide any additional evaluations.
(c)  The department shall determine the applicant's needs and the support services for which the applicant is eligible in accordance with department rules and after consulting with the applicant.
(d)  In determining eligibility for support services under this chapter, the department shall determine if the applicant is eligible to receive the services from other support programs.  If the department determines that the applicant may receive the services from another support program and those services are available to the applicant, the department may deny the application.  If the department denies the application, the department shall provide to the applicant information on and referral to the appropriate support program.
(e)  A local or state agency may not consider assistance received under this chapter in determining eligibility for another support program unless that consideration is required by federal regulations.
(f)  If requested by the applicant, the commission's appeals division shall hold a hearing on the denial of an application.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1208, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.
Amended by: 
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 4.173, eff. April 2, 2015.