TN 53 (10-11)

Citations:

20 CFR 416.420 and 20 CFR 416.1104

A. How to compute countable income

An individual's monthly income is one of the factors, which determines eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. If an individual is eligible, monthly countable income, (CI) determines the SSI payment amount.

The instructions in the following sections explain how to compute countable income based on Federal rules.

B. Definitions of countable income

1. Countable income

CI is the amount of income subtracted from the Federal benefit rate (FBR) to determine how much a recipient or claimant’s SSI payment should be. CI is what remains after:

• eliminating all amounts that are not income, and

• applying all appropriate exclusions.

CI is the sum of a month's countable earned and countable unearned income, and includes the value of the one-third reduction (VTR) see SI 00810.300B.4, in this section if applicable.

2. Countable earned income

Countable earned income is the amount of earned income remaining after applying all appropriate income exclusions. For more information on earned income, see SI 00810.015A.2.

3. Countable unearned income

Countable unearned income is the amount of unearned income remaining after applying all appropriate income exclusions. For more information on unearned income, see SI 00810.015A.3.

4. VTR

The VTR is countable in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) valued at one-third the recipients or couples FBR, as appropriate. For more information on VTR, see SI 00835.200 through SI 00835.210.

C. References

• SI 01210.200 Special Blind Income Provision Comparing Eligibility and Payment Amount Under Federal and State Plan Rules

• SI 00815.001 What is Not Income General

• SI 00810.400 Statutory Exclusions General