The field office should verify and document income derived from individual interests
in trust or restricted lands per SI 00830.830E (in this section).
If that income exceeds $2,000 per calendar year, determine the month exceeding the
$2,000 annual exclusion, and count the excess as unearned income in the months received.
Field offices (FOs) may use any method of keeping track of the excluded income that
is effective (e.g., manual record-keeping, use of rental or lease income (IRLI) screen
on the Modernized Supplemental Security Income Claims System (MSSICS).
EXAMPLE: During a redetermination interview, Mr. Elwell, a member of the Yakima Indian Tribe,
reports receiving accumulated lease payments of $2,800 in 1994 from his individual
interests in allotted Indian grazing lands. He alleges receiving $1,000 in March,
$700 in June, and $1,100 in October. Review of FO records shows that the claimant
reported the payments for March and June timely, but Mr. Elwell was ineligible for
SSI payments in June due to receipt of earned income. The claims representative (CR)
excludes the payment received in March and $1,000 of the payment received in October,
and does not consider the $700 received in June. The CR determines unearned income
of $100 for October, is the month that exceeds the $2,000 annual exclusion.