Special Needs - Diet

Special Diet Request

Eligibility for a special/therapeutic diet is dependent on appropriate verification from a physician. The Special Diet Request (CSF 25) form must be completed by the client's physician if no other verification is available.

Example:Example:A client indicates at her RRR that she is diabetic and that her physician has recommended that she go on a special diet. If the client does not already have the appropriate verification from the physician, the EW will provide the CSF 25 to the client to take to her physician. Once the appropriate verification is received, the EW can authorize the special diet allowance.

Therapeutic Diet Amounts

The below is not an exhaustive list of special/therapeutic diet types, however the maximum payment cannot exceed $15:

• $15 for:
  • Diabetic, 2200 calories or more.
  • High Calorie - High Protein diets.
• $9 for:
  • Diabetic diets, under 2200 calories.
  • Bland diets.
  • Low Fat - Cholesterol diets.
  • Low Salt diets (sodium, under three grams).

Reminder: The special/therapeutic diet must be prescribed by a physician and have an identifiable additional expense to the recipient. Payment cannot exceed $15.

Special Diet Effective Date

For Intake, if the appropriate verification is received in the month of application, the payment shall be prorated from the date of initial GA eligibility.

For Continuing, the effective date of payment for a special diet is the date that the request is made by the recipient if the appropriate verification is received in the same month.

For both Intake and Continuing, if the appropriate verification is provided later than the month of application/request, payment is made effective the 1st of the month in which the appropriate verification is received.

Review of Special Diet

Special diets must be reviewed by obtaining new verification at the following times (whichever comes first):

• Intake,
• The month in which the need for the special diet expires, as stated on the previous verification, or 
• Every 12 months.

 

Refer to the "Special Needs" topic in the Business Process handbook for additional processing instructions.

Related Topics

Payment

Overview

Initial Payment of Aid - GA Policy [271]

Presumptive Eligibility

Employment or Training Commencement Payment (ETC) - GA Policy [275]

Shelters Payments - GA Policy [281]

Housing Assistance

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) for GA Payments

Supplemental Payment

Budgeting

Shared Housing - GA [282]

Room and Board Situations

Special Needs

General Assistance Token Program

Reported Changes - GA Policy [105]

Homeless - Payment Principals

Homeless Shelters Referrals

Motel Reimbursement for Homeless

Homeless Shared Housing

Transportation Allowance

Closed GA Cases