Effective Dates: 09/29/2023 - Present Previous | Next

TN 111 (09-23)

SI 00835.115 In-Kind Support and Maintenance Evaluation for Homes in Foreclosure

A. Background for evaluating in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) for homes in foreclosure

Foreclosure is a process through which the lender or mortgagee seeks to regain property, because the borrower has defaulted on payments. Due to economic conditions, home foreclosures are affecting many people across the country. A foreclosure indicates a possible change in living arrangements (LA). The Social Security Administration is responsible for developing and documenting living arrangement (LA) changes and evaluating if ISM exists on a month-to-month basis.

B. Purpose for developing ISM when a foreclosure takes place

We consider as ISM the receipt of food, shelter, or both, and count the value as unearned income that we use to determine Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility and payment amount. Therefore, when an individual reports a change in their LA, we evaluate whether they receive ISM.

NOTE: 

Refer to “Resource Evaluation for Real Property in Foreclosure” in section SI 01130.120, for development and documentation instructions regarding the resource treatment of homes in foreclosure.

C. Treatment of LA and ISM in foreclosure situations

When an eligible individual, or a member of the eligible individual’s household, alleges that the real property is in foreclosure (or heading towards foreclosure) proceed to evaluate each case accordingly.

1. Claimant’s LA basis as the homeowner

While a foreclosure is pending and the claimant continues to live in the home, the LA basis continues to be home ownership, as described in “When Home Ownership is the Living Arrangement (LA) Basis, in section SI 00835.110.” For purposes of determining ISM, assume that the claimant:

  • •

    retains an ownership interest in the home; and

  • •

    has responsibility to pay the mortgage until the foreclosure is final.

NOTE: 

Develop LA and ISM following the normal rules for sequential development of LA in SI 00835.001.

After the foreclosure is final, the claimant no longer has an ownership interest in the home. At that time, develop the claimant’s new LA.

2. Treatment of ISM if the homeowner is delinquent on the mortgage payments

Do not charge ISM due to nonpayment of the mortgage for the period that the claimant was in arrears on the mortgage payment because the obligation to pay is still applicable.

EXAMPLE: John Smith is applying for SSI and tells us that they have a monthly mortgage payment of $500.00 and that John has not paid it since March 2012. Foreclosure has not occurred, so John still has a legal obligation to pay the mortgage and no one has paid the mortgage for John. ISM would not apply in this situation because nobody is paying the mortgage payments and John still has a legal obligation to make payments on the mortgage. Therefore, the unpaid mortgage payments do not result in ISM for John Smith.

3. Treatment of ISM after the foreclosure has taken place and the claimant is still residing in the home

When a foreclosure is final, the occupant is usually given a period of time to exit the residence. The claimant is no longer required to pay the mortgage payments and is given a date by the court or mortgage company to exit the home. During this period, the mortgage company might not require any payment (rent) for use of the home. Do not charge ISM for use of the house during this period if the mortgage company does not require a payment.

D. Document home ownership and foreclosure when the claimant resides in the home

Accept and document the claimant’s allegation of home ownership (principal place of residence) and foreclosure on a Report of Contact page or on an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact) paper form without additional development unless the case facts are conflicting or otherwise raise a question about home ownership or foreclosure.

1. Document homeownership

If the case facts raise a question about home ownership or the claimant’s allegation is inconsistent with information in the file:

  1. a. 

    Verify the home ownership allegation following the instructions in SI 01130.100;

  2. b. 

    Document the claimant’s allegation and the determination about homeownership on a Report of Contact page or on an SSA-5002 paper form; and fax paper documentation to the electronic folder (EF) or the Non-disability Repository for Evidentiary Documents (NDRED).

2. Document foreclosure

Use the claimant’s allegation to document when the foreclosure process began, the current stage of the process, or when the foreclosure process ended. If the claimant is unable to provide information about the foreclosure or the claimant is unable to provide court or lender documents, document the file accordingly:

  1. a. 

    Contact the lender or another knowledgeable source to verify the foreclosure;

  2. b. 

    Document the foreclosure information and determination on a Report of Contact page or on an SSA-5002 paper form;

  3. c. 

    Document information about when the foreclosure process began; and

  4. d. 

    Document the current stage of the process, or when the foreclosure process ended; and fax paper documentation to EF or to NDRED.

E. References

  • •

    SI 00835.001 Introduction to Living Arrangements and In-Kind Support and Maintenance

  • •

    SI 00835.110 When Home Ownership is the Living Arrangement (LA) Basis

  • •

    SI 00835.465 ISM and Households – Household Costs

  • •

    SI 01130.100 The Home Exclusion

  • •

    SI 01130.120 Resource Evaluations for Real Property in Foreclosure

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0500835115
SI 00835.115 - In-Kind Support and Maintenance Evaluation for Homes in Foreclosure - 09/29/2023
Batch run: 09/29/2023
Rev:09/29/2023