TN 33 (07-12)

Citations:

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11301, 11302,11311, 11312, and 11313

A. Why we flag homeless cases

We flag the disability folder to alert Social Security Administration and Disability Determination Services (DDS) components to special case processing and development requirements for homeless cases; see DI 11005.004D in this section.

B. What we mean by homeless

A claimant is homeless if he or she does not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

We also consider claimants homeless if they expect to lose current accommodations within 14 days, and will not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

EXAMPLES of living conditions that indicate homelessness include, but are not limited to, staying:

• at publicly or privately operated shelters;

• in hotels and motels paid for by Federal, State, or local government programs for low-income individuals;

• in a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground; or

• temporarily with a friend, family member, or another household. (This situation is sometimes referred to as “doubled up” or “sofa surfing.”)

REMINDER: When considering living arrangements and in-kind support and maintenance (LA/ISM) for SSI eligibility, the field office (FO) follows policy in Transients, Homeless Individuals, and LA/ISM Determinations, described in SI 00835.060.

C. Procedure for identifying homeless cases

1. Be alert to the possibility of homelessness for claimants who are:

• participants in a program or represented by an organization that primarily assists the homeless;

• fleeing domestic violence;

• runaway or abandoned youth; and

• young adults aging out of foster care.

IMPORTANT: Never consider currently incarcerated individuals homeless. For prerelease cases, see SI 00520.920 (FO) or DI 23530.001 (DDS).

2. Flag the disability folder “homeless” whenever a claimant alleges, or case information indicates, the claimant is homeless.

REMINDER: Always set the homeless flag for a disability claimant whose SSI living arrangement is transient.

• For cases in the Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS), follow the instructions in DI 81010.080B (FO) and DI 81020.085 (DDS).

• For cases excluded from EDCS (paper folder), prepare a flag using the sample format in DI 11005.004E. Attach the flag securely to the front of the Modular Disability Folder.

D. Requirements for claims involving homelessness

See case processing and development instructions for homeless cases:

1. FO

2. DDS

E. Exhibit – Sample Homeless Flag – Folder Excluded from EDCS