420-2 CONCURRENT PARTICIPATION IN THE SSI Supplemental Security Income PROGRAM
420-2 A. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SSI Supplemental Security Income AND APA PROGRAMS
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI Supplemental Security Income) program is a national, federally-funded and administered, public assistance program for the needy aged, blind, and disabled. Alaska's APA program is intended to supplement the benefits provided by the SSI Supplemental Security Income program.
Because of the APA program's higher income eligibility limits, many clients are eligible for APA but not for SSI Supplemental Security Income; there is no requirement that APA applicants or recipients whose countable income exceeds the applicable SSI Supplemental Security Income standard pursue application for SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits. Participation in the SSI Supplemental Security Income program is, however, a condition of eligibility for any APA applicant who receives countable needs-based income from such sources as Temporary Assistance or BIA-GA Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance that causes them to exceed the income limit for the SSI Supplemental Security Income program. If SSI Supplemental Security Income decides that these individuals are eligible, SSI Supplemental Security Income payments can begin once the needs-based income ends.
With few exceptions, the SSI Supplemental Security Income and APA programs use the same eligibility criteria. Because of this relationship between the two programs, the decision of the Social Security Administration on a claimant's eligibility for SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits may be the basis of a case worker's decision on the individual's eligibility for APA benefits. The only essential difference between SSI Supplemental Security Income and APA eligibility criteria are APA 's more liberal income policies, and APA requirements that recipients be residents of Alaska and at least 18 years old. Thus, the requirement to participate in the SSI Supplemental Security Income program goes beyond simple pursuit of a source of income; an APA client whose income is within SSI Supplemental Security Income limits must not only apply for SSI Supplemental Security Income, but also must be found eligible for SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits, or the client will be ineligible for APA benefits.
Exception:
The APA and SSI programs may apply a disqualification period if an individual
(or spouse) transfers a resource for less than its value. If
the APA disqualification period ends before the SSI disqualification period,
the individual may qualify for APA benefits after the end of the APA disqualification
period. To
qualify for assistance, the individual must still meet all other APA eligibility
requirements except for receipt of SSI benefits. See
manual section 433-1
for the policy on transfer of resources.
420-2 B. TIME LIMIT FOR PURSUIT OF SSI Supplemental Security Income BENEFITS
Unless the individual has already established a current SSI Supplemental Security Income claim, an otherwise eligible applicant whose countable income is within SSI Supplemental Security Income limits must file a claim for SSI Supplemental Security Income within 30 days of the date of APA application filing. The applicant must be provided with written notice of the requirement to file for SSI Supplemental Security Income and be given a reasonable amount of time to do so. Clients shall be informed that SSI Supplemental Security Income claims may be filed in person or by telephone, and that SSI Supplemental Security Income will allow a responsible individual to apply on behalf of another. If the applicant fails, without good cause, to comply with this requirement, APA assistance must be denied.
Whenever the countable income of an APA recipient who is not receiving SSI Supplemental Security Income is expected to decrease to less than the applicable SSI Supplemental Security Income standard, the case worker shall provide the client with a notice, in writing, that he or she must apply for SSI Supplemental Security Income within 30 days. SSI Supplemental Security Income application is required of any APA recipient whose income or living situation changes enough to indicate potential SSI Supplemental Security Income eligibility.
Refer clients to the SSI Supplemental Security Income program even if it appears that they will be eligible for a period as short as one calendar month. Clients whose monthly income fluctuates above and below SSI Supplemental Security Income limits must maintain an open SSI Supplemental Security Income claim; SSI Supplemental Security Income rules allow an individual's claim to remain open in nonpay status for up to 11 consecutive months without reapplication. Individuals in nonpay status with SSI Supplemental Security Income are considered to have an open SSI Supplemental Security Income claim; such individuals continue to remain eligible for APA if they meet all other factors of eligibility. Individuals in SSI Supplemental Security Income nonpay status must report to the SSA any change in their circumstances which might result in eligibility for SSI Supplemental Security Income payments.
420-2 C. BENEFITS TO APA APPLICANTS PENDING AN SSI Supplemental Security Income DECISION
APA applicants who are applying for both SSI and APA are not eligible for regular APA benefits while SSI is determining their eligibility. They may, however, be eligible for Interim Assistance payments until SSI makes a final decision on their eligibility. See manual section 426-2.
420-2 D. BENEFITS TO APA RECIPIENTS PENDING AN SSI Supplemental Security Income DECISION
If SSI Supplemental Security Income finds the client eligible, adjust the APA case to reflect receipt of SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits. If SSI Supplemental Security Income finds the client ineligible for any reason except excess income, close the APA case.
If SSI Supplemental Security Income denies the application solely because of excess income, the client may continue to be eligible for APA benefits if the client's income is within the APA limits and the client continues to meet all other factors of eligibility.
420-2 E. VERIFICATION OF PURSUIT OF SSI Supplemental Security Income BENEFITS
An individual's application for and pursuit of SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits may be verified in several different ways. Whenever possible, the case worker should use the client's own documents as the verification source. Examples of verification sources include:
Copies of any notice from SSA to the client which indicate the client is currently pursuing a claim;
Referral letter from SSA to DPA which indicates the client has filed an SSI Supplemental Security Income claim;
SSI Supplemental Security Income award letter;
Current SSI Supplemental Security Income benefit check;
SDX State Data Exchange interface match or paper printout which indicates a current SSI Supplemental Security Income claim;
Response to a State Verification Exchange System (SVES State Verification Exchange System) inquiry from SSA which indicates a current SSI Supplemental Security Income claim.
If no acceptable documentary evidence is available to verify application for or pursuit of SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits, a case worker may request information by fax machine or telephone the servicing SSA office and get verbal verification. Telephone contacts should be used only when no alternative verification source is reasonably available.
SSI Supplemental Security Income will accept a written or oral request for benefits and establish the date of the request as a filing date for SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits, but an SSI Supplemental Security Income application is not considered to be received until a signed SSI Supplemental Security Income application form is actually received by SSA . An individual who has not submitted a signed application to SSI Supplemental Security Income has not complied with the APA requirement to apply for SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits.
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