SSA actively assists recipients in establishing eligibility for TI benefits. This
includes FOs maintaining close working relationships with medical institutions to
assure prompt notification of a recipient's admission.
When informed of a recipient's admission to a medical facility, the FO staff will
contact the recipient (or knowledgeable source) to assist in obtaining the physician's
certification and the statement of need as quickly as possible.
Example: Assisting the recipient
Mrs. Freedman, an aged recipient, enters a hospital with pneumonia on August 22. On
September 2, the FO receives notification from the hospital of Mrs. Freedman's admission.
The FO must contact Mrs. Freedman (or a knowledgeable source) as soon as possible.
The FO contacts the facility on September 6 and obtains a statement from the social
worker in the facility that Mrs. Freedman's file reflects the physician's expectation
that the hospital will discharge her before the 91st day after the day of admission.
Mrs. Freedman's sister goes to the FO and signs a statement that Mrs. Freedman has
to pay her rent or she will lose her apartment. (Mrs. Freedman was in intensive care
and could not talk on the phone when the FO called.)