Needs allowance; waiver program individuals
HRS §346D-4.5
in effect346D-4.5. Needs allowance; waiver program individuals
(a) There may be established a monthly needs allowance for individuals living in:
(1) Adult residential care home type I and type II
facilities;
(2) Licensed developmental disabilities domiciliary
homes as defined in section 321-15.9;
(3) Community care foster family homes as defined in
section 321-481;
(4) Certified adult foster homes as defined in
section 321-11.2;
(5) Domiciliary care as defined in section 346-1;
(6) A nursing facility; or
(7) A community-based residence as part of the
residential alternatives community care program.
(b) The needs allowance may be administered by
the department of human services to pay for clothing and other personal
miscellaneous needs, such as bus fare, personal postage costs, haircuts, and
other costs of day-to-day living.
(c) The State's supplemental payment, as
authorized by section 346-53(c)(1) and (2), for a needs allowance under
subsection (a) shall be increased by an amount necessary to bring the allowance
up to $75 per month. The payment under this section shall be afforded to an
individual notwithstanding that the individual is incapacitated; provided that
the moneys may be spent on behalf of the client, with a written accounting, by
the operator of the residence or facility.
(d) The needs allowance is not intended to
replace or affect the funds received from the federal supplemental security
income program and shall be supplemental to any funds provided to a recipient
by the federal supplemental security income program.
(e) The operators of facilities identified in
subsection (a) shall pay for generic toiletries, including toilet paper, hand
soap, and paper towels; linens, including bedding, sheets, blankets, towels,
and bath towels; and meals and snacks for outings; provided that operators
shall not use the needs allowance without the consent of the individual
receiving the needs allowance.
(f) The needs allowance shall apply to persons
otherwise eligible to receive monthly income pursuant to state law or rules and
federal laws or regulations and is not intended to affect the classifications
of, or number of, persons eligible to receive these funds.
[L 2007, c 96, §2;
am L 2012, c 93, §5; am L 2023, c 109, §4; am L 2024, c 18, §2; am L 2025, c
45, §3]
Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol07_Ch0346-0398/HRS0346D/HRS_0346D-0004_0005.htmFetched: 11/10/2026