Harassment is the systematic annoyance of an individual through deliberate, unprovoked conduct including threats to or the stalking of an individual, which causes the individual to fear for their life, personal safety, or emotional well being.

Abuse is the deliberate mistreatment of an individual which causes physical or emotional injury and which causes the individual to fear for their life, personal safety, or emotional well being.

Life endangerment is the exposure of an individual to injury or danger that threatens the individuals life.

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  Photographs showing the results of an act of harassment/abuse such as personal injury or property damage without additional evidence that connects the act to the deemor. However, a victim may provide a photo showing their personal injury/property damage accompanied by a hospital or police report that makes this connection.

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  Statements from family or friends who do not have first hand knowledge of the harassment/abuse. For example, a friend completes a statement which indicates that they heard about, but didn't actually witness or see the results of the abuse.

If the SSI claimant provides sufficient evidence which indicates that the deemor is harassing, abusing, or endangering their life, good cause should be recorded in MSSICS on the Financial Institutions Permission page (see MS 08108.020). Record the type of good cause (e.g., harassment/abuse) and the evidence used to establish good cause on aReport of Contact or on the EVID screen in shared processes.

Be alert to situations where good cause has been established, but the material facts appear to have changed. Re-develop good cause if a report of change is received that indicates a prior good cause determination based on harassment, abuse, or life endangerment may no longer apply.

A claimant is applying for benefits as a disabled individual and alleges that they wont be able to obtain the financial permission from their spouse due to domestic abuse. The claimant provides a police report and medical records establishing that the spouse has been abusing them, but the claimant has not been able to find alternative housing at the time of the interview. The CS finds that good cause exists to exclude permission from the spouse as a factor of the claimant's eligibility. When the claimant is interviewed during the pre-effectuation review contact (PERC) five months later, they allege that the abusive situation has been resolved. Good cause should be re-developed and permission to contact financial institutions should be obtained from the spouse.

When completing a redetermination, note whether or not good cause was previously established for a deemor. If good cause was previously established, redevelop good cause since the material facts may have changed since the prior determination.

In certain situations, we may provide a good cause exception from the requirement that the deemor provide us with financial permission if the claimant acted in good faith to obtain permission and cooperated with us in our efforts to obtain permission from the deemor.

Good cause for failure to cooperate cannot apply if the deemor is one of the following:

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  Prospective or current representative payee and legal guardian of the claimant.

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  Prospective or current representative payee and custodial parent of a claimant who is a minor child.

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  Sponsor of a claimant who is an alien, or the sponsors living-with spouse.

If a deemor has failed to cooperate, take the following action:

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  Explain to the claimant that may not be eligible for SSI unless we receive permission from the deemor.

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  Assist the claimant in obtaining permission from the deemor. For example, attempt to obtain permission by calling the deemor or mailing a financial permission request letter.

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  If possible, explain to the deemor that their permission is needed for the SSI claimant to be eligible for benefits.

  NOTE: 

  In cases where the deemor who fails to cooperate is also the recipients representative payee, consider the need for developing a new payee (see GN 00504.100).

If the case facts and the evidence indicate that the claimant has acted in good faith to obtain permission from the deemor, document good cause as follows:

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  Record good cause in MSSICS on the Financial Institutions Permission page (see MS 08108.020).

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  Document via a Person Statement or on a signed SSA-795, the steps the claimant took to obtain permission from the deemor and why were unable to obtain permission.

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  On a Report of Contact or on the EVID screen in shared processes, record the type of good cause (i.e., failure to cooperate) and the steps taken by the field office to assist the claimant in obtaining permission from the deemor and document any evidence relevant to making the good cause determination.

Be alert to situations where good cause has been established, but the material facts appear to have changed. Re-develop good cause if a report of change is received that indicates a prior good cause determination based on failure to cooperate may no longer apply.

When completing a redetermination, note whether or not good cause was previously established for a deemor. If good cause was previously established, redevelop good cause since the material facts may have changed since the prior determination.

A claimant is applying for benefits as a disabled individual. During the interview the claimant agrees to give SSA permission to contact financial institutions. The CS informs the claimant that permission is also required from the spouse because the spouse's income and resources are available to the claimant. The claimant's spouse tells the CS that they are not applying for SSI and thus should not have to agree to anything. The claimant agrees and says the spouse should not have to give permission. The CS explains again that permission is required in order to receive SSI benefits. The claimant states that they do not think it is fair that the spouse has to give permission. The CS finds that good cause does not exist in this case.