SSA - POMS: SI SF01210.520 - Benefit Computations

A. Cases Likely to Require Blind Countable Income (BCI) Computation

Actual computations of BCI will not be necessary in every case. Screen cases first to determine if they have the types of income that are likely to result in BCI being less than the countable income under Federal rules (CI/FR). BCI computations will be needed in cases involving the items listed below. However, BCI computations are not limited to this list. Each case must be evaluated on its own merit.

1.

Ineligible spouses – even if there is no income to be deemed from the ineligible spouse, allocation of income to the ineligible spouse may apply (see SI SF01201.517);
2.

In-kind support and maintenance (including voluntary contributions);
3.

Countable earned income;
4.

Lump sum nonrecurring payments;
5.

Eligible couples;
6.

Benefit payments reduced because of garnishment and, after April 1, 1982, because of overpayment recovery actions;
7.

SSI offset beginning July 1, 1981.

Once the initial computation is completed, computations need to be done only for months when income and/or expenses change.

B. Computing Countable Income under Federal Rules (CI/FR)

Compute countable income under Federal rules. If the systems computation is available, use the SSR information providing correct information is on the system.

C. Determining When Manual Comparison of BCI and CI/FR is Necessary

If the recipient is in current pay on the system, enter BCI as K type income and the system will compare the BCI (K income) and CI/FR and compute payment based on the lower figure. If the record is a start date (SD) record, a manual comparison will be needed for the period prior to the start date. A manual comparison will also be needed for T31 records. See G through J below for computing BCI manually. See SI SF01201.521 for computing mandatory minimum State supplements.

D. Comparing BCI and CI/FR for a Blind Converted Individual with No Spouse or with an Ineligible Spouse

1.

To compute BCI, use form A or B as appropriate (see H and I below).

NOTE: Manually complete steps 2, 3, and 4 only when these steps cannot be completed through the system.
2.

Compute the BI’s Federal payment using BCI.
3.

Compute the BI’s Federal payment using CI/FR.
4.

Compare the results of 2 and 3 above. The greater payment will be the one due the recipient.
5.

Compute the optional State supplement using the same countable income used to determine the Federal payment (i.e., BCI or CI/FR).

E. Comparing BCI and CI/FR when Only One Member of an Eligible Couple is a Converted Blind Recipient

1.

To compute BCI for the converted blind recipient, use form A (see H below). Manually compute the eligible spouse’s income using Federal countable income-counting rules for an eligible individual.
2.

Determine the CI/FR of the couple using Federal income-counting rules for couples.
3.

Compare the result from 2. above with the sum of the converted blind recipient’s BCI and the eligible spouse’s CI/FR computed as for an individual.
4.

Using the lower of the two totals, compute the Federal payment and use the optional supplementation payment for each computational period.

F. Comparing BCI and CI/FR when Both Members of an Eligible Couple are Converted Blind Recipients

1.

Use Form C to compute BCI for each member as an individual.
2.

Compute CI/FR for each member using Federal income-counting rules for an eligible individual.
3.

Compute CI/FR as a couple using Federal income-counting rules for couples.
4.

Add the lower individual amounts of BCI or CI/FR for each member (from 1. and 2. above). Compare the total to the CI/FR for a couple (from 3. above).
5.

Use the lower total of countable income (from 4. above) to compute the Federal payment and optional supplementation payment for each computational period.

G. BCI Computation Worksheets

For cases identified as needing a manual BCI computation, three worksheets are provided:

1.

Form A – Eligible Individual without a Spouse (or an Eligible Couple but Only One is a Converted Blind Recipient)
2.

Form B – Eligible Individual with Ineligible Spouse
3.

Form C – Eligible Couple (both converted blind recipients)

H. Form A Completion Instructions

1. General

Use Form A for periods when the BI has no spouse as well as when the BI is a member of a couple, but the spouse is not also a blind converted recipient (i.e., the spouse is either a Federal applicant or a converted aged or disabled recipient).

2. Line by Line Instructions

Line 1 – The unearned income entered on this line is the amount remaining after applying the exemptions and exclusions in SI SF01201.518.

Lines 2-3 – Self-explanatory.

Line 4 – Enter the gross earned income.

Line 5 – If the $7.50 general exclusion has not been completely used on line 2 above, enter the remainder on this line.

Lines 6-8 – Self-explanatory.

Line 9 – See “work related expenses” in SI SF01201.514D.4. for the allowable expenses to be entered for a converted blind recipient.

Lines 10-11 – Self-explanatory.

Line 12 – The unexpended income is the amount by which the prior month’s income exceeded that month’s TAN (obtained from line 16 of the prior month’s computation).

Line 13 – Self-explanatory.

Line 14 – The amount on this line is the BCI input as K income or manually compared to the CI/FR. Amounts of 50 cents or more are rounded up to the next higher dollar; amounts of less than 50 cents are rounded down.

Line 15 – The total allowable need (TAN) is $215 or $215 plus the amount for attendant care services if applicable.

Line 16 – This figure may be a positive or negative figure. If it is a negative amount, ignore the amount for SSI purposes. The recipient would have been due this amount as his or her grant. If it is a positive amount, countable income exceeds the TAN and unexpended income is carried forward to the next month.

FORM A

Individual Without Spouse (or Eligible Couple when Only One is a Converted Blind Individual)

Name:________________________________ SSN:________________________

	PERIOD:	PERIOD:	PERIOD:	PERIOD:	PERIOD:	PERIOD:
LINE 1 Gross Unearned Income
LINE 2 Less General Exemption ($7.50)
LINE 3 Countable Unearned Income
LINE 4 Gross Earned Income
LINE 5 Less Balance of General Exemption
LINE 6 Less Earned Income Exemption ($85)
LINE 7 Remainder (Line 4 minus Lines 5 &6)
LINE 8 Less ½ Remainder (1/2 of Line 7)
LINE 9 Less Work Expenses
LINE 10 Countable Earned Income
LINE 11 Add Countable Unearned Income (Line 3)
LINE 12 Add Unexpended Income from Prior Month (if any)
LINE 13 Total Countable Income
LINE 14 Blind Countable Income (Round to Nearest Dollar)
LINE 15 Subtract Total Allowable Need (TAN)
LINE 16 Grant Amount (-) or Unexpended Income (+)

I. Form B Completion Instructions

1. General

Use form B for periods when the BI has an ineligible spouse. Form B is supplemented by Forms B-1, B-2, and B-3:

•

Form B-1 is used to compute the allocation from the recipient to the ineligible spouse. This concept is known as “meeting the spouse’s unmet need.”
•

Form B-2 is used to compute the ineligible children allocations.
•

Form B-3 is used only when the ineligible spouse is a wife.

NOTE: In accordance with the Basic Principles in SI SF01210.515 governing the allocation of income between spouses, we have affirmed that you should use the most advantageous computation (subject to administrative finality) regardless of the sex of the spouse. This means you will need to use Forms B-2 and B-3 regardless of the sex of the spouse for comparison purposes to determine the most advantageous computation.

2. Line by Line Instructions

Line 1 – Enter the unearned income remaining after applying the exemptions and exclusions in SI SF01210.518.

Lines 2-3 – Self-explanatory.

Line 4 – Enter gross earned income.

Line 5 – If the $7.50 general exclusion has not been completely used on line 2, enter the remainder.

Lines 6-9 – Self-explanatory. The exclusion is for the recipient only.

Line 10 – Self-explanatory.

Line 11 – Deduct actual work-related expenses for the recipient. For the ineligible spouse, deduct 25 percent of gross earned unless the spouse provides evidence that the actual expenses exceed 25 percent.

Lines 12-14 – Self-explanatory.

Line 15 – Skip lines 15-18 if the ineligible spouse is a wife. If the ineligible spouse is a husband, deduct $200 for his own support.

Line 16 – Subtract Line 15 from Line 14.

Line 17 – If the ineligible spouse is a husband and the amount on Line 16 is a positive figure, use Form B-2 to determine the allocation for any ineligible minor children who are not on AFDC/TANF. Enter the result on line 17. If the amount on Line 16 is a negative figures, enter that amount on Line 18 and go to Line 19 (a) instructions below.

Line 18 – Subtract Line 17 from Line 16.

Line 19 (a) – To determine the amount, if any, allocated to the blind individual:

1.

If the ineligible spouse is a husband and there is a + remainder on Line 18, enter in the BI’s column the lesser of Line 18 or one-half of Line 14.
2.

If the ineligible spouse is a wife, enter in the BI’s column the appropriate amount from the table on Form B-3.

Line 19 (b) –If 19(a) does not apply, determine the amount if any, allocated to the ineligible spouse; see SI SF01210.517 on when to use Form B-1. A negative amount on Line 16 of Form B is an indication that income, if available, can be allocated to the ineligible spouse.

Line 20 – Subtotal: Add Line 19 when income allocated to recipient; subtract the amount on Line 19 when allocating income to spouse.

Line 21 – Enter the remainder of the $7.50 general exemption, if any.

Line 22 – Remainder: Subtract Line 21 from Line 20.

Line 23 – Enter the unexpended income, if any, from the prior month (obtained from Line 28 for prior month).

Line 24 – Add Lines 22 and 23.

Line 25 – Amounts of 50 cents or more are rounded up; amounts of less than 50 cents are rounded down. Enter the BCI amount on this line as K income on the system or manually compared to CI/FR.

Line 26 – Enter the Total Allowable Need (TAN) – usually $215.

Line 27 – Subtract Line 26 from Line 25. This figure may be either positive or negative. If it is negative, ignore the amount for SSI purposes; the recipient would have been due this amount as his or her grant. If it is positive, countable income exceeds the Tan and there is unexpended income to carry forward to the next month.

FORM B

Individual With Ineligible Spouse

Name: ________________________________ SSN: ________________________

	PERIOD:	PERIOD:	PERIOD:	PERIOD:	PERIOD:	PERIOD:
LINE 1 Gross Unearned Income
LINE 2 General Exemption ($7.50)
LINE 3 Countable Unearned Income (Line 1 minus Line2)
LINE 4 Gross Earned Income
LINE 5 Balance of General Exemption (if any)
LINE 6 Remainder (Line 4 minus Line 5)
LINE 7 Earned Income Exemption ($85)
LINE 8 Remainder (Line 6 minus Line 7)
LINE 9 One-half Remainder (1/2 of Line 8)
LINE 10 Remainder (Line 8 minus Line 9)
LINE 11 Work Related Expenses
LINE 12 Countable Earned Income (Line 10 minus Line 11)
LINE 13 Countable Unearned Income (Line 3)
LINE 14 Subtotal Total (Line 12 plus Line 13)
LINE 15 Spouse’s (husband’s) Exemptions
LINE 16 Remainder (Line 14 minus Line 15)
LINE 17 Spouse’s (husband’s) Other Exemptions (from Form B-2)
Line 18 Remainder (Line 16 minus Line 17
Line 19 Income Allocated to Recipient (+) or Spouse (-)
Line 20 Subtotal
Line 21 Balance of General Exemption (if any)
Line 22 Remainder (Line 20 minus Line 21)
Line 23 Unexpended Income from Prior Month
Line 24 Recipient’s Total Countable Income (Line 22 plus Line 23)
Line 25 Blind Countable Income (round to the nearest dollar) **
Line 26 Total Allowable Need (TAN)
Line 27 Grant Amount (-) or Unexpended Income (+)

**This amount is the BCI to input as K income or compared manually to the CI/FR.

FORM B-1
Allocation to Ineligible Spouse

Line 1	Enter Ineligible Spouse’s Total Allowable Need (TAN)	$_________
Line 2	Ineligible Spouse’s Countable Income (Amount from spouse’s Line 14, Form B)	$_________
Line 3	Ineligible Spouse’s Unmet Need (Line 1 minus Line 2)	$_________
Line 4	Recipient’s Countable Incom (Amount from recipient’s Line 14, Form B)e	$_________
Line 5	Allocation to Ineligible Spouse (The lesser of Line 3 or one-half of Line 4)	$_________
Month(s) covered by the above computation __________________________

FORM B-2
Ineligible Husband’s Exemption

A. Needs of Minor Children Not Receiving AFDC/TANF
Line 1	Names and birthdates of children under 21:
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________



Line 2	Number of children on Line 1	$_______________
Line 3	Total need from AFDC standard below	$_______________
Line 4	Children’s (listed above) gross income	$_______________
Line 5	Subtotal (Line 3 minus Live 4)	$_______________
Month(s) covered by the above computation _______________________________

AFDC Need Standard

Number of Children	$ Amount
1	115
2	190
3	235
4	280
5	320
6	360
7	395
8	430
0	465
10 or more	500

B. Other Exemptions (See SI SF01201.516)
1. Medical expenses of ineligible spouse and minor children	$_____________
2. Payments on Debts	$_____________
3. Unusual current living expenses	$_____________
4. Subtotal	$____________
C. Total Additional Exemption (Add Lines A.5 and B4)	$____________

FORM B-3
*Allocation scale for wife of blind recipient

Wife’s Net Income	Maximum Contribution
$ 0-350 351-375	$ 0 20
376-400 401-425	25 30
426-450 451-475	35 40
476-500 501-525	45 50
526-550 551-575	55 60
576-600 601-625	65 70
626-650 651-675	75 0
676-700 701-725	85 90
726-750 751-775	95 100
776-800 801-825	105 110

*Use this scale to determine the amount of income allocated to blind recipient (husband) as described in SI SF01201.516.

A.
Form C Completion Instructions
1. 1.
  
  General
  
  Use Form C when both members of an eligible couple are blind recipients converted in California. The computation is basically the same as the eligible individual’s computation. Each member of the couple is treated as an individual and has State income exemptions/exclusions applied. (See Form A completion instructions for eligible couple computations when only one member of the couple is a converted blind recipient.)
2. 2.
  
  Line by Line Instructions
  
  Line 1 – Enter the amount remaining after applying the exemptions and exclusions in SI SF01210.518.
  
  Line 2 – Enter the $7.50 general exclusion. Any unused portion of one member can be applied to the other member.
  
  Line 3 – Self-explanatory.
  
  Line 4 – Enter gross earned income.
  
  Line 5 –If the $7.50 general exclusion has not been completely used on line 2 above, enter the remainder.
  
  Lines 6-10 – Self-explanatory.
  
  Line 11 – Enter the allowable work related expenses – see SI SF01210.514D.4.
  
  Lines 12-13 – Self-explanatory.
  
  Line 14 – The unexpended income is that amount by which the prior month’s income exceeded that month’s total allowable need (TAN): obtained from line 8 of the prior month’s computation.
  
  Line 15 – Self-explanatory.
  
  Line 16 – Round down amounts of less than 50 cents and round up amounts of 50 cents or more to the next higher dollar. The amount on this line is the BCI to be input as K income or manually compared to the FCI.
  
  Line 17 – Subtract the TAN (usually $215).
  
  Line 18 – This may be either a positive or a negative figure. If negative, ignore the amount for SSI purposes; the recipient would have been due this amount as his/her grant. If positive, countable income exceeds the TAN. Carry unexpended income forward to the next month.

FORM C

Eligible Couple - Both Converted Blind Recipients

Name________________________________ SSN:________________________

	PERIOD: Husband	PERIOD: Wife	PERIOD: Husband	PERIOD: Wife	PERIOD: Husband	PERIOD: Wife
LINE 1 Gross Unearned Income
LINE 2 Less General Exemption ($7.50)
LINE 3 Countable Unearned Income
LINE 4 Gross Earned Income
LINE 5 Less Balance of General Exemption
LINE 6 Remainder
LINE 7 Less Earned Income Exemption ($85)
LINE 8 Remainder (Line 5 minus Lines 6)
LINE 9 Less ½ Remainder (½ of Line 7)
LINE 10 Remainder
LINE 11 Less Work Related Expenses
LINE 12 Countable Earned Income
LINE 13 Add Countable Unearned Income (Line 3)
LINE 14 Add Unexpended Income from Prior Months (if any)
LINE 15 Subtotal Lines 12-14
LINE 16 Blind Countable Income (Round to Nearest Dollar)
LINE 17 Subtract Total Allowable Need (TAN)
LINE 18 Grant Amount (-) or Unexpended Income (+)

Social Security

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)

SI SF01210.520 Benefit Computations

A. Cases Likely to Require Blind Countable Income (BCI) Computation

B. Computing Countable Income under Federal Rules (CI/FR)

C. Determining When Manual Comparison of BCI and CI/FR is Necessary

D. Comparing BCI and CI/FR for a Blind Converted Individual with No Spouse or with an Ineligible Spouse

E. Comparing BCI and CI/FR when Only One Member of an Eligible Couple is a Converted Blind Recipient

F. Comparing BCI and CI/FR when Both Members of an Eligible Couple are Converted Blind Recipients

G. BCI Computation Worksheets

H. Form A Completion Instructions

1. General

2. Line by Line Instructions

I. Form B Completion Instructions

1. General

2. Line by Line Instructions