SSI Facilitation- SSA Interim Assistance Reimbursement Authorization (IARA)

Revised on April 1, 2026

WAC 388-449-0200 - Am I eligible for cash assistance for Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) while waiting for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

WAC 388-449-0210 - What is interim assistance and how do I assign it to the department?

Clarifying Information

Persons receiving ABD cash are required to sign a DSHS 18-235, SSI Interim Assistance Reimbursement Authorization (IARA) agreeing to pay interim assistance. Good cause is not an option when someone fails to sign the IARA. Per WAC 388-449-0200 signing the IARA is a condition of eligibility.
The State of Washington and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have a written agreement that the IARA is also a notice of intent to file an SSI application.
The IARA signed date is the protective filing date when:
1. The IARA is filed with the SSA District Office within 30 days of the client's signature date on the IARA.
2. An SSI application is filed with SSA within 60 calendar days of the client's signature date on the IARA.
Once the IARA is filed with SSA, the IARA is effective for interim assistance repayment for as long as the SSI application is active.

NOTE
When the IARA is received in the mail by HIU: The HIU staff will sign the IARA and fax to the appropriate SSA office with an SSA cover letter. The IARA received date will automatically fill in ICMS SSI Tracking Screen with the date the HIU prints the IARA SSA cover letter. The HIU staff will image the IARA and assign it to the SSIF of record. Unsigned or unusable IARAs will be imaged with a cover letter indicating the IARA was not sent to SSA and a new IARA will need to be obtained.

NOTE

When the IARA is received in the mail by HIU:
1. The HIU staff will sign the IARA and fax to the appropriate SSA office with an SSA cover letter.
2. The IARA received date will automatically fill in ICMS SSI Tracking Screen with the date the HIU prints the IARA SSA cover letter.
3. The HIU staff will image the IARA and assign it to the SSIF of record.
4. Unsigned or unusable IARAs will be imaged with a cover letter indicating the IARA was not sent to SSA and a new IARA will need to be obtained.