Retention Date: 04/29/2027
A. Purpose
This emergency message (EM) provides guidance on achieving the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 redetermination (RZ) and limited issue (LI) goals. It also reminds field offices (FOs) to follow the order of priority when scheduling RZs and LIs and best practices for managerial processing of RZs and LIs.
B. RZ/LI goal for FY 2027
The FY 2027 combined processing goal for RZs and LIs is 2.9 million. FOs will have the flexibility to meet their combined RZ/LI goal with any combination of RZs and LIs. For FY 2027, we are releasing all HEP-C’s in October 2026 to ensure the highest priority cases are worked first.
C. Achieving the RZ and LI goal
FOs should follow the order of priority shown in section D when identifying and scheduling RZs and LIs. Give special emphasis to the highest priority diaries - 5B, 5H, EE, K6, S2 - particularly those pending for more than 1 year. FOs should also prioritize RZs that have been initiated but not cleared, as well as Age 18 RZs (Profile K - KB diary) and continuing disability reviews (CDRs).
REMINDER: For KB diaries, the diary matures the month before the month of age 18 attainment, therefore the associated RZ can be initiated and worked a month before the SSI recipient’s 18th birthday. The system will still require and permit a living arrangement iteration for the day of the recipient’s 18th birthday. Offices are expected to work all KB diaries by the recipient’s critical birthday month.
D. Order of priority and StaRZ and Stripes the Next Generation (SSTNG)
FOs should follow the order of priority as listed in SI 02305.017E when scheduling your LI and RZ workloads. Profile C RZs with priority diaries are high-priority cases for FY 2027. Following the order of priority ensures that FOs focus on the RZs and LIs with the greatest probability of improper payment.
SSTNG allows you to organize your cases according to the priority order using filters. You can apply a filter to your SSTNG case list by clicking the “select filter” button on the SSTNG home page (SSI HOME). The following table describes the selections to make for each level of priority:
Order of Priority | Filter Selection in SSTNG |
| 1. Profile C and K with priority diary | Profile = C and diary = DI, EE, 5B, 5H, SB, K6, K7, J3, J5, U5, S2, S7, KB, KC, KE, K6, K8, K9, KP, KV, KZ, D8, R8, 3D, or I8 |
| 2. LI with priority diary | Selection indicator=X and/or diary = EE, 5B, 5H, SB, K6, K7, J3, J5, U5, S2, S7, KC, KE, K6, K8, K9, KP, KV, KZ, D8, R8, 3D, or I8 |
| 3. Profile E and M | Profile = E or M |
| 4. Profile C without a priority diary | Profile = C (this will select all HEP C cases, even those with a priority diary. You must manually scan the list to find those without priority diaries) |
| 5. Profile B, UC 1, and W with priority diaries | Profile = B, 1, or W and diary = DI, EE, 5B, 5H, SB, K6, K7, J3, J5, U5, S2, S7, KC, KE, K6, K8, K9, KP, KV, KZ, D8, R8, 3D, or I8 |
| 6. Profile A with priority diary | Profile = A and diary = DI, EE, 5B, 5H, SB, K6, K7, J3, J5, U5, S2, S7, KC, KE, K6, K8, K9, KP, KV, KZ, D8, R8, 3D, or I8 |
| 7. LI without priority diary | Profile = X and selection indicator code = C (unverified self-employment), F (continuing type F unearned income), or G (payment continuation) or Z (dedicated account) |
| 8. 1619(a) cases with a special action code A | N/A - Cases will not be selected this year |
| 9. Profile UC 1 and W without priority diaries | Profile = 1 or W |
| 10. Profile A and B without priority diaries | Profile = A
We are not selecting profile B cases without diaries this year. |
E. Processing Requirements
Redeterminations require full development of all non-medical factors of eligibility, unless a case meets the exceptions listed in SI 02305.001C.2. Quality review data indicates that most incorrect payments result from incomplete or incorrect development of income and resource factors. Therefore, it is important that technicians closely adhere to the following procedures:
Even though LIs are limited to one or more specific factors of eligibility, they also adhere to the rules of reopening, especially Administrative Finality.
Technicians MUST use the RZwiz worksheet during all RZ, LI and wage-related diary interviews. There is no need to retain the worksheet in the file after the interview. See SI 02305.070 When to Use the SSI Claims System or the Paper RZ Form SSA-8203-BK, Statement for Determining Continuing Eligibility for Supplemental Security Income Payments.
Additionally, technicians must adhere to the attestation requirements found in SI 02305.003 by reading each attestation script verbatim. Technicians must also ask every required income and resource question with the RZ path individually, per SI 02305.071.
REMINDER: Always apply AFI procedures by verifying financial account balances, regardless of any liquid resource allegation, when there is a resource-related diary present on an RZ or LI. For more information on verifying financial account balances, see instructions for the policy on Electronic Financial Institution Verification. As of 09/26/26, a system edit has been implemented to prevent technicians from closing an RZ or LI with a resource-related diary without first requesting an AFI.
When conducting RZs or LIs over the telephones, technicians must adhere to identification instructions listed in the policy for Identity of Claimants to verify the identity of the claimant.
Not all post-eligibility (PE) changes require an RZ. For a list of the situations that require the completion of an unscheduled RZ, see SI 02305.022A.3.
F. Processing Considerations
There remain cases impacted by the SSI Living Arrangement Regulatory Changes, implemented September 30, 2024. Additional information regarding how to treat cases with payment changes prior to administrative finality is forthcoming on Instructions - EM-24047 REV: SSI Living Arrangements Regulatory Changes - Technician Instructions for Identifying and Processing Affected Cases.
o Due to the regulatory change, couples and households with multiple eligibles will automatically be considered a Public Assistance Household and development of inside ISM is not needed. Technicians can view all resources related to the new regulatory changes on our SSI Living Arrangements Regulatory Changes SharePoint site.
Per SI 02305.001.C.2, exceptions to full development of all non-medical factors of eligibility during an RZ review are age and citizenship, unless a FO questions the previous determination or in the case of citizenship, when the recipient is identified on the SSR as a non-citizen (AR Code is other than A., C, or D with a date of eligibility of 01/01/82 or later, or M, N, or Q). Additionally, if the Citizenship Status and Birth date proof type options are shown as “alleged” or have been left blank in the alien status screen within the CCE claims system during prior PE or RZ, FO technicians need to verify these statuses and obtain proof, as needed.
There will continue to be RZs where the claim was taken during the pandemic and we adjudicated based on allegations for age, citizenship, and/or alien status. Technicians should thoroughly review the Numident, Person Information, and Alien Status screens to ensure all information is verified. If there are discrepancies, technicians should follow instructions in Resolving Identity Discrepancies in Title XVI Claims. For U.S. citizenship, follow instructions for Verifying Immigration Documents to secure original evidence accordingly. When verifying alien status, technicians must review the original immigration document(s) and verify the alien status via the web-based Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program.
NOTE: Completing RZs initiated from a prior fiscal year (for example, an RZ initiated in August 2026, but completed in FY 2027) also count towards the RZ goal. FOs must monitor their initiated RZs to ensure they are developed and completed timely. FOs can obtain a list of pending initiated RZs from:
NOTE: Completed unscheduled RZs count towards the annual goal. Keep in mind that your FO gets a count for completing an RZ whenever you start date a Supplemental Security Record (SSR). For start date records built using:
IMPORTANT: Due to routine unscheduled RZs, managers will estimate the number of unscheduled RZs their offices complete and consider that estimate when determining the number of scheduled cases to complete.
G. Management Involvement in RZ/LI Workloads
Managers and supervisors can assist with the RZ/LI workload if there is a business need. These members of management may only complete RZs/LIs if they have sufficient SSI training and possess the proficiency necessary to accurately and effectively complete RZs/LIs. Program proficiency includes the ability to fully and accurately develop all factors of SSI eligibility including living arrangements, income and resources, and outstanding diaries. They must also thoroughly document the cases according to policy. Additionally, managers and supervisors who close RZs/LIs initiated by other employees must thoroughly review the RZ/LI for accuracy prior to adjudication.
Direct all program-related and technical questions to vHelp.
References:
EM-24047 REV SSI Living Arrangements Regulatory Changes - Technician Instructions for Identifying and Processing Affected Cases
EM-24048 Omitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations
SI 02305.000 Redeterminations of Eligibility and/or Payment Amount - Table of Contents