TN 57 (01-08)

A. Policy

The following section provides general rules for developing allegations of recipient resources during a redetermination (RZ) interview.

When using paper forms to conduct RZs, “YES” responses to questions designed to elicit information about resources require an explanation because the Supplemental Security Record (SSR) does not contain detailed information about resources.

NOTE: Effective 11/18/2006 permission to contact financial institutions must be requested at all RZs initiated by field offices (FOs).

Open a RZ with recaps in MSSICS and use the appropriate screens (including the AFIP screen) to complete the RZ.

B. Procedure – general

NOTE: Effective 11/18/2006 permission to contact financial institutions must be requested at all RZs initiated by FOs.

Open a RZ with recaps in MSSICS and use the appropriate screens (including the AFIP screen) to complete the RZ.

Assume that permission has previously been collected if:

• The initial claim was filed 11/18/2006 or later, or

• A redetermination has been completed by the FO 11/18/2006 or later. (See SM 01501.002C.8. for a description of the redetermination disposition codes found in the CRZD segment of the SSR). The only exception to this assumption is if the completed redetermination was opened in MSSICS prior to 11/18/2006. In this case it cannot be assumed that the financial permission question was asked, because the AFIP screen will only appear in the MSSICS path for events opened 11/18/2006 and later.

Develop the value of resources owned by or deemed to the recipient unless the tolerance in SI 02305.100C. or SI 02305.100D. applies. See SI 01140.010 for guidelines on general post-eligibility verification requirements.

If an individual alleges ownership of a resource that SSA records do not reflect, ask the individual if he/she acquired the resource in the period of review and, if so, the date he/she acquired the resource. Develop all aspects of the resource beginning with the month after the month the resource was acquired, subject to any applicable tolerances.

Develop the equity value of a resource (liquid or nonliquid) when an individual alleges a debt against the resource and the difference between the equity and Current Market Value (CMV) would mean the difference between eligibility and ineligibility see SI 01140.042, Determining Equity Value.

EXCEPTION: See SI 01130.200 regarding the value of an automobile.

C. Procedure - developmental tolerance for liquid resources

Verify alleged countable liquid resources totaling $400 or more (SI 01140.010B.).

NOTE: Cases with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) alerts must be developed unless the SSR or FO files/records clearly indicate that a particular transaction on the IRS alert was previously developed and the transaction previously developed belongs to the recipient (or deemor) or represents excluded income or resources per SI 02310.047A.

See SI 01140.010B.2. for instructions on applying the liquid resource verification tolerance to excludable burial funds.

D. Procedure - developmental tolerance for nonliquid resources

Do not redevelop the CMV of nonliquid resources alleged during a UC RZ if the following conditions exist:

• The resource in question was reported previously and is on the SSR (CG field), on the Modernized Supplemental Security Income Claims System (MSSICS) screens, or otherwise documented in the initial claims file still in the office;

• The UC RZ is initiated within 12 months of the month of application, the month of first eligibility, or the date of the “Review statement Summary for Supplemental Security Income” (a PERC is the “Review statement Summary for Supplemental Security Income” spell out PERC) or supplemental SSA-8000-BK (APPLICATION FOR SUPPLERMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI)), whichever is latest; and

• The value of the nonliquid resource is not expected to affect eligibility.

Document that these conditions are met if CMV is not redeveloped.

E. Procedure - exclusions

Consider the following exclusions:

• Property essential for self-support (see SI 01130.500 for an explanation);

• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) (see SI 00870.001 for an explanation);

  NOTE: If a resource is being excluded for an existing PASS, develop for compliance with the plan. Determine whether the exclusion should be continued, be adjusted, or stopped.

• Pension funds (including individual retirement accounts) owned by certain deemors (SI 01330.120 and SI 01330.220);

• Retroactive SSI and Retirement, Survivors Disability Insurance (RSDI) payments (SI 01130.600);

• Jointly owned real property which cannot be sold without undue hardship (due to loss of housing) to the other owner(s) (SI 01130.130);

• Real property for so long as the owner's reasonable efforts to sell it are unsuccessful (SI 01130.140);

• State plan exclusions for “converted” recipients (SI 01220.001);

• Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund Payments (SI 01130.680); and/or

• Any other applicable resource exclusion listed in SI 01110.210.

  Count the value of partially excludable resources in excess of the amount that can be excluded.

F. Procedure - documenting the resources of others

NOTE: Effective 11/18/2006 permission to contact financial institutions must be requested at all RZs initiated by FOs.

Open a RZ with recaps in MSSICS and use the appropriate screens (including the AFIP screen) to complete the RZ.

Documentation instructions for MSSICS cases are in SI 00515.001D.1. Documentation instructions for non-MSSICS cases are in SI 00515.001D.2.

Document the resources of the following people on an SSA-8010-BK (Statement of Income and Resources), SSA-795 (Statement of Claimant or Other Person), the REMARKS section of an SSA-8203-BK or SSA-8202-BK, or on the appropriate MSSICS screen:

• An eligible child's parent(s) and the parent's spouse living in the same household (SI 01330.200);

• The resources of the eligible child's parent(s) are documented in Question 13 and Question 14 of the SSA-3989-OCR-SM;

• Sponsors of aliens and the sponsor's spouse (SI 01330.500); and/or

• Essential persons (SI 01330.400);

• Record the effective dates of and reasons for any changes in the REMARKS section of paper forms or on appropriate MSSICS screens.

G. Procedure - explaining conditional benefits

Explain the conditional benefits provision to recipients whose SSI payments are going to be suspended due to excess nonliquid resources per SI 01150.203.

H. Procedure - transfer of resources for less than fair market value

For transfer of resources for less than their fair market value, see SI 01150.110.