TN 45 (11-11)

A. Description of earnings questions

Most monthly benefit applications have questions about the claimant's earnings in the YOF and in the preceding year. These questions also ask which months, if any, the claimant did not have wages over the exempt amount or render substantial services in self-employment (SE). Ask the estimate of next year's earnings if the filing date is in the last 4 months of the year. In Modernized Claims System (MCS) claims, lag earnings can be posted on the EARN screen.

B. General procedure for collecting information on earnings during YOF and the preceding year

1. Fill-ins (paper application)

Fill in the appropriate monthly exempt amounts before completing an application where there are blank spaces.

2. Explanation

During the first interview, fully explain the applicable deduction provision to every claimant who is under full retirement age for at least one month in the YOF.

3. Use of answers

Use the earnings information to:

• assist the claimant in choosing the best month of election (MOEL) based on the claimant’s personal decision. See GN 00204.040B for more detail on MOEL.

• determine if work suspensions or deductions are applicable under the retirement test.

• determine if it is necessary to develop lag earnings for computation purposes.

4. Further development

Develop the question of substantial services per RS 02505.065 if a SE person who had or expects to have earnings over the exempt amount in the year.