TN 14 (09-95)

A. Policy

1. Verify Earnings

In addition to the annual redetermination required for section 1619(a) and (b) cases, earned income and exclusions from earned income must be verified at least quarterly (more frequently at local option).

2. When to Verify

Earned income and exclusions from earned income must be verified no later than the beginning of the second month of each quarter.

EXCEPTION: Where a redetermination is conducted in the quarter being determined, the earnings verification performed as part of that redetermination also satisfies this requirement. Earnings are verified for section 1619 cases for the period beginning with the month after the last month for which earnings have been previously verified and ending with the last full calendar month prior to the current month.

3. Threshold Determinations

Eligibility is not redetermined under the threshold test each quarter.

B. Procedure

1. Recipient Contact

1. Since the recipients are usually working, do not attempt face-to-face contact in the FO unless required by other POMS instructions or other methods of obtaining earnings information are not successful.

2. Coordinate earnings verification, redetermination, and CDR contacts to the extent possible.

3. Request wage information for each month not previously verified prior to the current month.

4. Request an estimate of earnings for the current month and the following months up to the next scheduled verification of earnings.

5. If the recipient does not respond to SSA's requests for the necessary information, see SI 02301.235.

2. Earnings Verification

1. Verify earnings per SI 00820.135 ff. Be extremely sensitive to any indications that the employer will object to verification on a quarterly basis (e.g., the employer has been uncooperative in the past, the recipient indicates the employer will object, etc.).

2. If the FO has indications that there will be problems with the employer, obtain documentation solely from the recipient.

3. If the recipient cannot provide verification of all earnings (e.g., acceptable payslips), estimate the amount from whatever documentation the recipient can provide and input that amount as unverified.

4. If quarterly verification cannot be secured, record attempts to obtain the information on an SSA-5002.

5. When the information becomes available, or at the time of a redetermination, whichever is earlier, verify any unverified earnings per SI 00820.130 through the month prior to the recipient contact or redetermination.

3. Changes to Exclusions

When reviewing verified earnings, determine whether any changes have occurred regarding any earned income exclusions that might apply such as IRWE, PASS, or BWE. Document the excluded amounts per
SI 00820.500 ff. (IRWE and BWE) or SI 00870.001 ff. (PASS).

4. Earnings Estimates

In estimating future earnings, the amounts earned in the past few months are often the best guide. However, consider any indication given by the recipient that a change in earnings is anticipated. (See SI 00820.150 for additional information on estimating future wages.)

5. Systems Input

Transmit the new earnings estimate to the system. See SM 01305.101 ff. for instructions on systems input.