Excess earnings of an individual are charged to each monthly benefit beginning with the first month the individual is entitled in the year in question and continuing until the excess is recovered or until all the benefits have been withheld for the year. However, a beneficiary may request to prorate or defer work suspensions to a later period. (For Prorating Work Suspensions, see RS 02501.120.)

1. a. 

   When the excess earnings charged to a month are less than a full monthly benefit, impose a work suspension for the entire month. (For payment of partial benefits when imposing work deductions, see RS 02501.110.)

2. b. 

   The full month withholding rule also applies to any action that considers work suspensions, such as Automatic Earnings Reappraisal Operation (AERO), Adjusted Reduction Factor (ARF), and Delayed Retirement Credit (DRC).

EXAMPLE: A beneficiary becomes entitled to benefits of $562.00 effective January. Their excess earnings of $2,880 will cause work suspensions for January through May and permit a partial monthly benefit for June. However, apply full-month suspensions through June.

1. a. 

   If a beneficiary protests the withholding of a full month's benefit when only part of that month's benefit is not payable based on an estimate of earnings, pay the partial benefit. The beneficiary can make the protest orally or in writing.

2. b. 

   If the number holder (NH) protests the withholding of a full month's benefit, pay the partial benefit to the NH and any auxiliaries that may be due a partial payment.

A beneficiary may request deferred work suspensions to a later period. Grant such a request only if the beneficiary:

• •

  Alleges that they will suffer extreme financial hardship unless they receive full payment for a limited time until their financial situation is better and can do without their benefits;

• •

  requests the deferral on their own initiative;

• •

  has no expectation of excess earnings in the following year; and

• •

  has no existing overpayment.

Prorate work suspensions in certain circumstances upon the beneficiary's written request. (For Prorating Work Suspensions, see RS 02501.120.)