Example 1
Susan, DOB 2/20/29, filed for DIB in 1/88. A period of disability was established
beginning 6/12/87. Their benchmark year was 1987, the year in which the period of
disability began.
Their condition improved so their DIB was terminated 10/89 (the DIB entitlement continued
through 9/89). In 3/91, at age 62, they filed for RIB. Since they were not entitled
to DIB for any of the 12 months preceding the month they attained age 62, their benchmark
year for the RIB PIA computation is 1991. Nevertheless, the prior period may be considered
in establishing insured status and in determining elapsed years, computation years,
and the base years. A non-freeze computation must also be considered.
Example 2
Same facts as above except Susan again became disabled in 7/90. Since they were eligible
for DIB within 12 months of the last month of their prior DIB entitlement for a freeze
computation, their benchmark year remains 1987, the year their prior period of disability
began.
If the prior period of disability is not considered, their benchmark year is 1990,
the year of assumed age 62. Disability insured status must be met in 7/90 if this
non-freeze computation is used.
Example 3
Sam, DOB 04/05/45, filed for DIB in 12/90. They had no prior periods of disability.
We established a period of disability with an onset date of 05/18/90. Their benchmark
year based on this period of disability was 1990.
Sam’s initial period of disability terminated in 05/92. They reapplied for DIB in
02/93 with an onset date of 01/15/93. We approved Sam for DIB, and their benchmark
year remained 1990.
Sam’s second period of DIB terminated in 07/97 They reapplied for disability benefits
in 12/97 with an onset date of 11/20/97. Again, we approved Sam for disability benefits.
Using a DIB freeze computation, Sam’s benchmark year remained 1990.
Even though Sam had multiple periods of disability, there was never a gap in entitlement
greater than 12 months. Therefore, the benchmark year remained the same as their very
first period of disability. This assumes that we used the prior period of disability.