(a) Participation of individuals in cost of services. (1) A State is neither required to charge nor prohibited from charging consumers for the cost of IL services provided under the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program;

(2) If a State charges consumers or allows other service providers to charge for the cost of IL services provided under the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, a State is neither required to nor prohibited from considering the ability of individual consumers to pay for the cost of these services in determining how much a particular consumer must contribute to the costs of a particular service.

(b) State policies on cost of services. If a State chooses to charge or allow other service providers to charge consumers for the cost of IL services provided under the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program and if a State chooses to consider and allow other service providers to consider the ability of individual consumers to pay for the cost of IL services provided under the Independent Living Services for Older Individual Who Are Blind program, the State must maintain policies that—

(1) Specify the type of IL services for which costs may be charged and the type of IL services for which a financial need test may be applied;

(2) Explain the method for determining the amount charged for the IL services and how any financial need test will be applied;

(3) Ensure costs are charged uniformly so that all individuals are treated equally;

(4) Ensure that if costs are charged or financial need is considered, the consumer's required participation is not so high that it effectively denies the individual a necessary service;

(5) Require documentation of an individual's participation in the cost of any IL services provided, including the determination of an individual's financial need; and

(6) Provide that individuals who have been determined eligible for Social Security benefits under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act may not be charged any cost to receive IL services under this program.

(c) Policies on consumer financial participation. If a State permits other service providers to charge the costs of IL services provided under the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, or chooses to allow other service providers to consider the ability of individual consumers to contribute to the cost of IL services provided through the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, the State must require that such service providers comply with the State's written policies regarding consumer financial participation in the cost of IL services.