TN 57 (02-23)

HI 00801.154 SSI/SSP Credit for Disabled Widow(er)s

A. Background

Section 5103 of P.L. 101-508 changed the disability standard for Disabled Widow (er)'s Benefits (DWB) to conform with the disability standard for disabled workers effective January 1991. Section 5103 includes a provision that permits months of eligibility for SSI or federally administered State supplementary payments (SSP) to be counted toward the 5-month DWB waiting period and the 24-month D-HI qualifying period.

B. Policy

When a current or former Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Federally administered SSP recipient becomes entitled (or deemed entitled for Medicare purposes only) to DWB under the revised disability standard. The, DWB will receive credit for all months in an SSI/SSP period of eligibility beginning with the first month for which the individual is eligible to receive any payment up to the month of (deemed) DWB entitlement. We count all, beginning with the first month of eligibility, including all months, of nonpayment, suspension and termination.

The same months of SSI/SSP, that are credited toward the 5-month DWB waiting period may also be credited toward the 24-month D-HI qualifying period.

The first possible month of entitlement to D-HI under this provision is January 1991.

Example: The person became eligible for SSI/SSP on January 1, 2017. Also had a period of nonpayment March through June 2017 and a suspension period May through July 2018. When calculating the 24-month D-HI qualifying period, include all months beginning with January 2017, regardless of any periods of non-entitlement.

 

C. References


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600801154
HI 00801.154 - SSI/SSP Credit for Disabled Widow(er)s - 02/01/2023
Batch run: 02/01/2023
Rev:02/01/2023