TN 17 (01-17)

A. Definition of multiple entitlement

Multiple entitlements refer to claimants who are entitled to more than one Social Security benefit at the same time. For example, a claimant may be entitled to Retirement Insurance Benefits (RIB) on his or her own Social Security number (SSN) and as a spouse on another SSN (dual-entitlement). In some situations, a claimant may be entitled to benefits on more than two SSNs (for example, triple-entitlement).

B. Adjudicator considerations

When a claimant is already entitled on one SSN or will be concurrently entitled on two or more SSNs, consider the following items:

• Discussing the scope of the application and the choice of restriction of benefits (if deemed filing does not apply) in order to maximize the amount of benefits due to delayed retirement credits (DRCs). For information on restricting the scope of an application see GN 00204.020 and for DRCs see RS 00615.690;

• Applying the deemed filing rules when a claimant files an application for either RIB, spouse’s or divorced spouse’s benefits. For more information on deemed filing refer to GN 00204.035;

• Whether the entitlement on one SSN will terminate, reduce or suspend benefits;

• Whether the new or concurrent entitlement will affect the benefit computation on either or both SSNs;

• The effect of multiple entitlement on established work deductions, suspensions, worker’s compensation (WC) or public disability benefits (PDB) offset or Hospital Insurance (HI)/Supplemental Medical Insurance (SMI) entitlement;

• Whether a Combined Family Maximum (CFM) or Parisi Adjustment apply; and

• Special Dual-Entitlement (D/E) and partial adjudication procedures. For partial adjudication policy, see GN 01010.110.

C. Documenting multiple entitlement

1. Concurrent claims

If you establish multiple entitlements based on concurrently filed claims, include the following information in each Modernized Claim System (MCS) file involved:

• The award for all claims involved under each SSN;

• Annotate the reason for any suspension, termination or adjustment that concurrent entitlement caused on both SSNs in the:

  1. Benefit Continuity Remarks/Notice (BCRN) screen,

  2. Report of Contact (RPOC) screen, or

  3. Earnings Comp Print (DAPR) Screen, from which can generate a routing form (similar to the SSA-3601) that you will fax to the appropriate Processing Center (PC) via the paperless process.

• Prepare an award or amended award to document both SSNs when the CFM applies. For simultaneous entitlement of children on more than one SSN policy, see RS 00615.770.

2. Non-concurrent claims

When the new claim affects the benefits already established on another SSN and it requires an Automated SSA-101 (A101) or Electronic Form 101 (EF101) indicate the reason for any resulting suspension, termination, or adjustment on the RPOC, BCRN or routing sheet of the new award.

NOTE: Always obtain the current Full Master Beneficiary Record (FACT) for previously established claims.

3. Document the adjudicative decision

When documenting the adjudicative decision in multiple entitlement situations, follow the instructions in GN 01010.053.

D. References

• GN 00204.020 Scope of the Application

• GN 00204.035 Deemed Filing

• GN 00204.039 Explaining Month of Election (MOEL) options

• GN 01010.053 Documenting the Adjudicative Decision

• GN 01010.110 Partial Adjudication

• RS 00615.758 Adjusting Benefits for the Family Maximum (FMAX) When the Family Composition Changes

• RS 00615.770 Simultaneous Entitlement of Children on More than one SSN