Help for people unable to work: ABD and HEN

Yes, if both these apply to you:

• You have very low income and resources.
• You cannot work due to disability or incapacity. We define these below.

These Washington state programs may be able to help:

• ABD (aged blind disabled) - cash assistance for adults with disability similar to SSI disability standards. The condition has lasted at least twelve months or you expect it to last that long (or to result in death).  
• HEN - non-cash housing and “essential needs” help for adults unable to work due to incapacity (physical or mental impairment lasting at least 90 days). If you are eligible to get ABD, you are also eligible to get a referral to the HEN program.

No. Medical benefits no longer come with these. You apply for Medicaid separately. See “Can I Apply for Medicaid now that HEN and ABD do not include Medicaid Automatically?” within this resource.
Most low-income adults without disability or incapacity can get Medicaid now. You do not need to get ABD and HEN to get Medicaid.

• Exception:  Medicaid requires citizenship or specific kinds of immigration status. If you do not have that, but you qualify for ABD and a HEN referral, DSHS can approve you for a state-funded medical program, Medical Care Services.    

ABD (Aged Blind Disabled) gives cash benefits. In 2022, a single person could get up to $417 a month. 

Maybe, if you have income and resources below the allowed levels and you are:

• 65 or older or
• Blind or
• Have a disabling physical or mental condition keeping you from working full-time for at least twelve months and
• Your disability is not primarily due to alcohol or drug addiction

HEN is non-cash help.  It can:

• Pay for housing costs.
• Give you other “essential needs” items.

See “What Help Can I Get From HEN?” below.

Yes, if either of these is true:

• You get ABD.
• You are “incapacitated” (have a physical or mental impairment that will keep you from working for at least 90 days). Your income and resources are below the allowed levels.

You are not eligible for HEN if you already get or qualify for:

• PW (Pregnant Women Assistance)
• TANF (cash assistance for needy families)
• SSI (federal disability assistance)

You are also ineligible for HEN if:

• You suffer from substance abuse but are not in treatment.
• You are fleeing to avoid prosecution or punishment for a felony.

You apply with DSHS.  You can apply online through Washington Connection or in person at your local DSHS office.

DSHS requires you to give recent medical evidence about your physical and/or mental health conditions. If you need help getting or paying for medical records or exams, DSHS must help you.

If DSHS approves you for the “HEN referral” program, they refer you to apply for HEN assistance with a HEN provider in your community.

It depends. 

• You may qualify for ABD or HEN if you cannot get TANF because of the 60-month time limit for TANF benefits. 
• You cannot get ABD or HEN if you do not get TANF because you refuse to or do not meet a TANF rule, such as work requirements.   

You have 90 days from the date on the notice to appeal. If DSHS denies you both, you can appeal just the HEN referral program denial or both ABD and HEN.

DSHS should refer you to your local HEN provider. The HEN Provider directory is online at HEN Provider Directory.

Housing & Utilities assistance:

The local HEN provider may pay rent and/or utility assistance directly to a landlord or utility company for you. In some counties, HEN will pay back rent, utility bills, and/or move-in deposits. HEN may pay other costs, such as application or screening fees, or storage costs.

Personal essential needs items

You may receive:

• Personal health and hygiene items (toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper)
• Household cleaning supplies (laundry and dish soap)
• Bus passes, other transportation costs (limited)

* HEN does not give retailer gift cards, vouchers, or certificates to buy these things.

Yes, but only if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness. HEN may also give you free “essential needs.” (See above.)

When you apply for HEN assistance with your local HEN provider, you must have proof you are homeless or at risk of homelessness. You might also have to prove other risk factors. The HEN provider will do an assessment of your risk. 

• You do not need to be homeless to get HEN assistance.

The friend or relative must fill out paperwork from HEN stating:

• They are currently requiring you to pay rent.
• They would evict you if you did not pay. 

It depends on where you live. The average is about $300 a month. Amounts can be much smaller or higher. The HEN provider decides the amount after an assessment.

The agency does not give you the money. They directly pay your landlord, people you live with, and/or the utility company. HEN does not give housing vouchers like housing authorities do.

Check Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services page regarding HEN.

First DSHS must approve you and refer you to get HEN. After you get the DSHS HEN referral, you go to the HEN provider in your county to apply for HEN assistance.

Yes, but your rights are more limited than for help you get from DSHS. The agency where you apply for HEN has rules about when and why they can deny or end your assistance. These rules explain how to ask for a grievance (appeal) and how that will go. Look for rules about:

• Termination of Participation and Grievance - when the agency ends your assistance
• Applicant Denial and Grievance - when the agency will not give you (denies you) HEN assistance

Rules vary by county. HEN is not an entitlement program. The agency decides how much you get, and how long. If state funding for HEN runs out, there is no right to continuing benefits or assistance.

DSHS approves you for the HEN referral program for up to twelve months. You must renew your HEN eligibility with DSHS before your eligibility ends to keep getting HEN. 

• You lose HEN if you get SSI.

HEN providers review your financial eligibility for rent assistance every three months. 

Some HEN providers keep paying for your housing for up to three months after you lose the HEN referral. This depends on the HEN provider having other funding for the housing assistance. This is not available in all counties.

Communities can run out of their state HEN funds before the end of their contract periods. If this happens, they might stop or change their HEN programs. This can be temporary. 

• Apply online at: wahealthplanfinder.org
• Call 1-855-923-4633 (1-855-WAFINDER)
• Pick up a paper application at your local DSHS office

For more help, ask Healthplanfinder (the number or website above) or DSHS to help you find a free, trained In-Person Assister (“Navigator”) in your community. 

There is more information about Medicaid programs in our Health section.