TN 28 (04-26)

DI 42010.225 Followups and Controls on Continuing Title II Interim Benefits

The Social Security Administration (SSA) must pay monthly Federal benefits prospectively if the Commissioner does not make a final decision within 110 calendar days after the date of the administrative law judge (ALJ) decision. These interim benefits start the month before the month in which the 110th day falls and end the month before the month the Commissioner issues a final decision.

A. There is no interim benefits start order

The notice to a claimant about the Appeals Councils review of a favorable ALJ decision tells the claimant that we will pay interim benefits effective with the month before the month in which the 110th day falls. The claimant may contact SSA as the 110th day approaches to inquire about interim benefits. If the processing center (PC) had not received the start order for Title II interim benefits, request a start order to initiate interim benefits by sending an email to ^DA Compliance 8001.

B. Final ALJ or Appeals Council (AC) decision not issued within nine months

Interim benefit payments require close management to prevent payment beyond the month of final decision. Because of the sensitivity of this workload, please follow the development guidelines in this section.

The procedures in this section apply if the case is pending an AC decision or was remanded back to the ALJ for a decision. Therefore, PC staff and management should carefully evaluate which office to contact.

If

then

The claimant is still in interim benefit payment status for nine months

The PC will query eView to see if the case is pending with the AC or is pending in the Hearing Office (HO).

If the case is pending with the AC:

The PC will email ^DA Compliance 8001 and inquire about the status of the claim pending. The AC will provide status. Establish diary to recontact the AC in three months if necessary and return the case to the holding file for the next followup.

If the case is pending in an HO:

The PC will email the HO mailbox and inquire about the status of the claim pending. The HO will provide status. Establish diary to recontact the HO in three months and return the case to the holding file for the next followup.

The claimant is still in interim benefit payment status for 12 months

The PC will query eView to verify whether the case is pending with the AC or HO.

If the case is pending with the AC

The PC will write an email indicating that interim benefit payments continued for 12 months without a final decision and submit an official request to the AC to expedite processing. Include any special characteristics of the case. The module manager will forward the memorandum via email to ^DA Compliance 8001 and CC ^DA DICompliance Appeals Quality and return the case to the holding file for the next followup.

If the case is pending in an HO

The PC will write an email indicating that interim benefit payments continued for 12 months without a final decision. Include any special characteristics of the case and submit an official request to the AC to expedite processing. The module manager will send the email to |||DA HQ DIGovernance APP and return the case to the holding file for the next followup.

The claimant is still in interim benefit payment status for 15 months

The PC will query eView to verify whether the case is pending with the AC or HO.

If the case is pending with the AC

The PC will send an email with subject line URGENT-SECOND NOTIFICATION to ^DA DICompliance Appeals Quality and inquire about the status of the claim pending decision. The AC will provide status. Return the case to the holding file for the next followup.

If the case is pending with the HO

The PC will send an email with subject line URGENT-SECOND NOTIFICATION to |||DA HQ DIGovernance APP and inquire about the status of the claim pending. Adjudication Practices and Procedures (APP) will provide status via email. Return the case to the holding file for the next followup.

The claimant is still in interim benefit payment status for more than 16 months

Refer the issue to the PCs Operation Support Branch with a summary of the facts and a copy of the original email. The OSB Chief will forward the original email to the Executive Directors of Governance and Compliance at ^DA DIGovernance Controls (for HO cases) and ^DA DICompliance Controls (for AC cases). Inform the Executive Directors that interim benefit payments have continued for more than 16 months without a final decision. Include any previous correspondence with the AC or HO (if available) or special characteristics of the case. Return the case to the holding file pending a reply.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0442010225
DI 42010.225 - Followups and Controls on Continuing Title II Interim Benefits - 04/15/2026
Batch run: 04/15/2026
Rev:04/15/2026