The EAP is a special one-time payment conducted in the Field Office in which the claimant
receives an advance of the first month's benefit payment if an established financial
emergency exists. The payment may be based on a finding that the non-medical eligibility
factors are only presumptively met. However, there must be a sufficient basis for
finding presumptive disability/presumptive blindness (PD/PB) eligibility on income
and resources.
In claims based on disability or blindness, EAP requires either a PD/PB finding by
the field office (FO) or a formal disability allowance by the Disability Determination
Services (DDS). If the impairment is one of those listed in DI 11055.231, the FO may make an EAP based on PD/PB.