Persons who are both members of certain categories of groups eligible to receive public assistance, and economically needy. As used in Medicaid, this means a person who is aged blind disable, or member of a family with children under 18 (or 21, if in school) where one parent is absent, incapacitated or unemployed and, in addition, meets specified income and resources requirements which vary by State. In general, categorically needy individuals are persons receiving cash assistance under the AFDC or SSI programs. A State must cover all recipients of AFDC payments under Medicaid; however it is provided certain options (based, in large measure, on its coverage levels under the old Federal State welfare programs) in determining the extent of coverage for persons receiving Federal SSI and or State supplementary SSI payments. In addition, a State may cover additional specified groups, such as foster children, as categorically needy. A State may restrict its Medicaid coverage to this group or may cover additional persons who meet the categorial requirements as medically needy.