1.   What month is used for calculating financial eligibility during initial application for Title XVI (SSI)?

2.   How does SSA count federal and state income tax return checks when determining Title XVI (SSI) benefits?

3.   How does Job Corps program's stipend/wages impact Title XIV benefits?

4.   How does a trust fund affect SSI eligibility?

5.   Is a grant for school (PELL, SEOG) counted as unearned income when SSI benefits are calculated?

6.   If a beneficiary of Title II or a recipient of Title XVI is terminated or determined to be in overpayment, they normally have a couple of months to appeal the decision. What is the 10-day rule about?

7.   If an SSI recipient gains employment and the employer provides a living apartment as part of the wages will the amount or rent be counted as earned or unearned income when calculating the SSI cash benefit?

8.   Is there a maximum amount of back payments SSA will pay to a recipient of SSI (Title XVI)?

9.  What is the total amount of resources a person can have before losing Missouri Medicaid?

10.  If a person is ineligible for Title XVI (SSI) due to a spouse's income, can that income be used as a resource to contribute to a PASS?

11.  If there is no threshold amount for 1619B set by the state is there a federal amount consideration for the threshold?

12.   Does deemed income, other family resources, or number of individuals in the family affect threshold limits?
 

13.   Does SSA review 1619B eligibility? How often is it reviewed and under what circumstances?

14.  Can an individual who requires special transportation to go to work pay a family member and deduct an IRWE?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  1.  What month is used for calculating financial eligibility during initial application for Title XVI (SSI)?

To determine eligibility, SSA uses the month of the application and the next two months.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2.  How does SSA count federal and state income tax return checks when determining Title XVI (SSI) benefits?

SSA does not count any income tax returns and as of 1991, they no longer count earned income credits.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3.  How does Job Corps program's stipend/wages impact Title XIV benefits?

As a work incentive for people involved in school/training programs, it is SSA's policy to allow Student Earned Exclusion before the general income exclusion or the earned income exclusion is deducted. (see current amounts)This policy includes governmental anti-poverty programs (Job Corps/JTPA). This could be counted by SSA as in-kind support, (i.e., room and board, clothing, dependent allowance, and/or transportation) as unearned income. Payments to volunteers in Americorps* Vista are an exception to this rule.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4.  How does a trust fund affect SSI eligibility?

It depends if the individual is restricted from access. If the individual cannot access the trust fund until a certain age (or what ever the restriction is), it does not count until he/she reaches that age and receives an amount. Any amount received from a trust fund is counted or if items are purchased that can be counted as a resource for SSI determinations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5.  Is a grant, scholarships, or fellowships for school (PELL, SEOG) counted as unearned income when SSI benefits are calculated?

NO, grants are not considered as unearned income if they are used for school expenses and not for basic food, clothing, and shelter.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

6.  If a beneficiary of Title II or a recipient of Title XVI is terminated or determined to be in overpayment, they normally have 60 days to appeal the decision. What is the 10-day rule about?

If the beneficiary or recipient appeals within 10 days of the notification benefits will continue and not be suspended during the appeal process. However if the decision is in the favor of SSA the beneficiary or recipient will have to reimburse SSA for the payments received during the appeal.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

7.  If an SSI recipient gains employment and the employer provides a living apartment as part of the wages will the amount or rent be counted as earned or unearned income when calculating the SSI cash benefit?

If an employer - employee relationship exists, the equivalent dollar amount for the apartment's rent is counted as earned income unless the employee is a farmhand, then it is counted as unearned income.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

8.  Is there a maximum amount of back payments SSA will pay to a recipient of SSI (Title XVI)?

No, however, SSA will limit amounts in in increments that does not exceed 12 times the current Federal Benefit Rate. (SCAP)
 
 
 
 
 
 

9.  What is the total amount of resources a person can have before losing Missouri Medicaid?

If a person is not a 1619B beneficiary, the resource limit is $999.99. If the person is eligible for 1619B, it is $2000.00. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

10.   If a person is ineligible for Title XVI (SSI) due to a spouse's income, can that income be used as income to contribute to a PASS?

Yes, SSA will determine a deemed amount that can be used as income to set aside in a PASS. A deemed amount is the portion of a spouse's income deemed useable by the person with a disability when they figure what, if any, cash benefit is due from SSI. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

11.   If there is no threshold amount for 1619B set by the state is there a federal amount consideration for the threshold?

Yes, see our Did You Know page for the current threshold amounts for the Nation.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12.    Does deemed income, other family resources, or number of individuals in the family affect threshold limits?

Only the individual's wages are counted. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

13.   Does SSA review 1619B eligibility? How often is it reviewed and under what circumstances?

Yes. There is a diary that is put on the record. It is reviewed at least once a year. This is when the three questions are asked: 

• Have you used Medicaid in the past 12 months?
• Do you anticipate using Medicaid in the next twelve months?
• If you become ill would you need Medicaid in the next twelve months?

The claimant must answer at least one of these questions YES in order to maintain 1619B eligibility.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14.   Can an individual who requires special transportation to go to work pay a family member and deduct an IRWE?

Yes, (a reasonable charge) if they would be unable to access public transportation or drive themselves. Mileage can be an IRWE on modified vehicles.