PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEMPart SI – Supplemental Security IncomeChapter 006 – The SSI Application ProcessSubchapter 01 – General Applications and Interviewing PolicyTransmittal No. 75, 04/28/2026
Audience
Originating Component
AES
Effective Date
04/24/2026
Background
To support SSA’s digital services and enhance the customer experience, we are updating our protective filing policies to streamline processes and ensure consistency with recent policy changes. The revised policies expand the ability for third parties to initiate protective filings, clarify when individuals have expressed their written intent to claim benefits, and make all previous lead policies obsolete. Additionally, we modernized the process for providing closeout notices, shifting from mailed notices to on-screen or verbal delivery, further improving efficiency and accessibility for claimants. These updates are essential to align our procedures with current digital service capabilities and to provide a more streamlined experience.
Summary of Changes
SI 00601.025 Protective Filing - Oral Inquiry
We are streamlining this section to support SSA's digital services and enhance the customer experience. We incorporated relevant instructions from archived sections.
CITATIONS: 20 CFR 416.345, 416.350
An oral inquiry is when a potential claimant or third party asks about the potential claimant's eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. When an oral inquiry is received, it must be documented to establish a protective filing. If a protective filing already exists and the closeout period has not expired, then no further action is needed.
We will use the date of an oral inquiry about SSI payments as the filing date of an application for SSI payments only if:
Use of that date will result in SSI eligibility,
The potential claimant is alive at the time the inquiry is made, and
A proper applicant files a valid application within 60 days from the date of the protective filing closeout notification.
SSA technicians will use SSA systems (e.g., Modernized Claims System (MCS), Consolidated Claims Experience (CCE), Appointment Scheduling Calendar (ASC), Enhanced Leads and Appointment System (eLAS)) to document the protective filing based on the oral inquiry.
The Title II application filing date serves as an oral inquiry for SSI payments whenever the claimant is within 2 months of age 65 or older or alleges blindness or disability. During the Title II claim interview, the SSI question automatically comes into the claims path whenever the claimant is within 2 months of age 65 or older or alleges blindness or disability and the technician must explain the requirements for receiving SSI payments and give the person an option to file an application.
If the person does not wish to file an application for SSI when SSI is explained to them, we will record their answer on the Title II application. If the person wants to file for SSI, we may use the date of the Title II application as protective filing for the SSI application if an application is filed within 60 days.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses an SSA-L991 notice to document a potential claimant's decision not to file for SSI payments only if they request it or choose not to file during their scheduled SSI appointment. If the potential claimant appears ineligible based on other factors of eligibility, indicate such in the notice. The SSA-L991 does not include protective filing dates, as closeout language was already provided either online or by an SSA technician.
NOTE: Do not send an SSA-L991 for missed or rescheduled appointments.