TN 25 (06-11)

A. Policy for rounding SSI payments and income rounding payments

1. Rounding payments for an individual

If a payment includes a fraction of a cent, raise it to the next higher cent. We round payments only at the last step of Federal or State payment computation. Rounding applies only if there is a third digit to the right of the decimal point (i.e., if the fractional cent is at least one-tenth of a cent). If the third digit to the right of the decimal point is “0,” do not round. Do not round up the fourth digit to the right of the decimal point to derive the third digit. Use a calculator to derive the actual third digit, not a rounded up fourth digit.

EXAMPLE:

We compute the recipient’s payment to be $446.495 for April 2010

$446.495 Monthly amount

$446.50 (rounded)

2. Rounding payments for a couple

We divide the monthly amount due a couple by two to yield the amount for each member of the couple. Show the amount due the couple to three digits to the right of the decimal, divide, then round the payment for each member.

EXAMPLE:

Couple was due $363.67 for April 2010

$363.67 Monthly amount for couple

÷      2

$ 181.835 Monthly amount to each member

$ 181.84 (rounded)

3. Rounding Federal and State benefits

Round Federal and State benefits separately, and then combine them to compute the total amount due.

4. No rounding of income

In the computation of payments, the calculation of countable income (CI) is an interim step to which rounding does not apply. Express income within a computation to three digits to the right of the decimal point.

Individual has $100.01 earned income in April 1996:

$100.01 Earned income

-  20.00 General exclusion

$  80.01

-  65.00 Earned income exclusion

$  15.01

÷        2

$  7.505 CI used to compute benefit

5. Truncating income for system input

Transmit income to the supplemental security record monthly in dollars and cents. To transmit an income amount that has a fractional cent, drop the fractional cent. Do not round the amount to the next higher cent.

EXAMPLE:

An SSI recipient expects to have net earnings of $1,004 from self-employment in 2010. This is $83.666 per month. Transmit a continuing earned income amount of $83.66.

B. References

SI 02001.005, Issuing SSI Benefits

SI 02005.007, Proration In Initial Claims