SSA - POMS: SI 01140.010 - Resource Verification Requirements

A. Policy for verifying resources

Verify the value of liquid and non-liquid resources as of the first moment of any month for which you must determine eligibility unless a tolerance applies or specific instructions indicate that verification is not required.

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For liquid resource verification procedures, see SI 01140.010B in this section.
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For non-liquid resource verification procedures, see SI 01140.010D in this section.

NOTE: For more information on the significance of liquid and non-liquid resources, see Determining the Liquidity/Non-liquidity of Resources, SI 01110.300.

B. Procedure for developing liquid resources

1. General rules for liquid resources

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Verify the value of all non-cash liquid resources if alleged liquid resources total $400 or more. For more information on the liquid resource tolerance, see SI 01140.010C in this section.
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Accept an allegation of cash, regardless of the amount, when an individual alleges cash as a liquid resource. Never ask to see or count cash. Verify all other non-cash liquid resources if the alleged liquid resources total $400 or more.
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Verify financial institution (FI) account balances using Access to Financial Institutions (AFI) without regard to the $400 liquid resource tolerance when processing initial SSI allowances and certain redeterminations (RZs) and limited issues (LIs) involving resource-related diaries. See SI 01140.010B.2.a and SI 01140.010B.2.b in this section for more information on when AFI verification is required during these events.

NOTE:

For instructions on how to verify financial institution (FI) accounts using AFI, see Electronic Financial Institution Verification SI 01140.206.

2. Exceptions to the general rules for liquid resources

a. FI account verification using AFI is required for all initial SSI claim allowances, initial claim reopenings, and appeal reversals establishing initial eligibility

The $400 liquid resource verification tolerance discussed in this section does not apply to FI account verification in initial SSI claim situations. Verify the value of financial accounts using AFI regardless of alleged liquid resources prior to processing an initial claim allowance (aged or disability/blindness).

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For SSI Aged (65+) claims, including initial claim reopenings and initial claim appeal reversals, request AFI verification prior to adjudication and payment of an allowance.
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For disability and blindness awards involving deferred development (see SI 00603.003), complete AFI verification during the pre-effectuation review (PERC).
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For disability and blindness claims involving simultaneous development (see SI 00603.004), complete AFI verification before processing the claim to “blank” payment status. Do not delay transferring the case to DDS while developing FI account balances.

Note:

If a PERC is required after a case has been processed to “blank” payment status, a new AFI verification is only required during the PERC if liquid resources are alleged or found to have exceeded the $400 liquid resource verification tolerance at any point during initial phase of development.

To verify FI accounts, follow AFI verification procedures in SI 01140.206E for electronic cases; or SI 01140.206F for non-SSI Claims system cases. Include a geographic search request when verifying account balances during these event types.

When processing initial claim allowances, the $400 liquid resource verification tolerance may still apply to all other types of liquid resources if:

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the claimant alleges liquid resources below the $400 tolerance; and
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the mandatory FI account verification supports that allegation (i.e., AFI verification combined with alleged values of other resources do not exceed the $400 threshold in any month subject to verification.)

See SI 01140.010C in this section for instructions on applying the tolerance in these cases.

b. FI account verification using AFI is required for redeterminations (RZs) and limited issues (LIs) involving resource-related diaries.

Always verify FI account balances using AFI and verify liquid resources regardless of the liquid resource allegation when there is a resource-related diary present on an RZ or LI. The liquid resource verification tolerance does not apply to RZs or LIs with any of the following resource-related diaries:

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5B Internal Revenue Service (IRS) alert,
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5H pension interface alert,
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SB savings bond alert,
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R8 conserved funds alert, and
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DI dedicated account alert.

To verify FI accounts, follow AFI verification procedures in SI 01140.206E for electronic cases; or SI 01140.206F for non-SSI Claims system cases. Include a geographic search request when verifying account balances during these event types. For more information on resource-related diary development, see SI 02310.046 and SI 02310.047.

c. When to accept the claimant’s or recipient’s allegation

Accept the allegation and do not verify the value of liquid resources for a given month if the alleged value of the total countable resources meets or exceeds the applicable resource limit for that month and the individual does not qualify for conditional benefits. For information on conditional benefits, see SI 01150.200.

d. High/low development option for verifying liquid resources

When the tolerance for verifying liquid resources does not apply, you may be able to save time and effort by using the high/low development option to verify the value of liquid resources such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, or checking and savings accounts. For more information on the high/low development option, see SI 01140.022.

e. Allegation conflicts with existing evidence

If an allegation conflicts with existing evidence, you must resolve the discrepancy per GN 00301.040. Do not apply the liquid resource verification tolerance when available evidence indicates liquid resources are $400 or more for a given month.

f. Treatment of life insurance

The verification tolerance for liquid resources does not apply to life insurance policies. When determining whether the total alleged value of liquid resources is $400 or less, do not include the cash surrender value (CSV) of life insurance in the calculation. To develop life insurance policies, follow instructions in SI 01130.300C.

g. Burial funds

The liquid resource verification tolerance applies to excluded burial funds when they are designated and held using the following arrangements. When determining whether the total alleged value of liquid resources is $400 or less, include these burial funds as liquid resources:

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cash;
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FI accounts; and
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other financial instruments with a definite cash value (e.g., stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), etc.).

The verification tolerance for liquid resources does not apply to excluded burial funds held using the following arrangements. When determining whether the total alleged value of liquid resources is $400 or less, do not include these burial funds as liquid resources:

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revocable burial contracts;
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revocable burial trusts;
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other revocable burial arrangements (including the value of certain installment sales contracts for burial spaces); and
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life insurance policies and/or dividend accumulations designated for burial.

For more information on burial funds, see SI 01130.410.

3. Interfaces

For information on how to develop SSI interfaces, follow the instructions in SI 02310.000.

C. Applying the liquid resource tolerance

The liquid resource verification tolerance is $400. Determine whether the $400 liquid resource tolerance is met or exceeded prior to applying any resource exclusions.

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Verify account balances and the value of all non-cash liquid resources, including excluded financial accounts (e.g., burial funds), if the recipient or their deemor(s) alleges ownership of liquid resources with a value of $400 or more and there is at least one month of potential SSI eligibility.
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Consider a disabled child’s liquid resources separately from their parent(s) liquid resources and verify the value of all liquid resource(s) if the alleged value is $400 or more for the disabled child, or $400 or more for their parent(s).

For example, during an RZ, the CS learns that a child has $150 in cash savings. The deemor parents have a joint checking account with a balance of $300, and a joint savings account with a balance of $200. The CS determines that verification is required for all FI accounts owned by the recipient and deemors because the parents’ combined liquid resources exceed $400. For additional examples of when to verify financial account balances and on applying the tolerance in a deeming unit, see SI 01140.206C.10.
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See SI 01140.010B.2.a in this section for when the $400 liquid resource verification tolerance may apply to other liquid resources when verifying FI accounts during initial claims.

D. Procedures for non-liquid resources

Use the current market value (CMV) of a non-liquid resource for any month you need to determine eligibility (see exceptions in SI 01140.010D.2 in this section).

1. General rules for non-liquid resources

Use these procedures to determine the value of a non-liquid resource only if other specific instructions do not exist in Programs Operations Manual System (POMS).

a.

Develop the CMV of a resource. For more information, see What Values Apply to Resources, SI 01110.400.
b.
Develop the equity value (EV) of a resource whenever the:
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  CMV of all countable resources exceeds the applicable limit;
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  individual alleges a debt against the resource; and
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  alleged equity value could permit eligibility. For more information on how to determine the equity value of a non-liquid resource, see SI 01140.042.
c.

Develop the value of a non-liquid resource when there is evidence of shared ownership according to SI 01110.510, Sole vs. Shared Ownership.

2. Exceptions to the general rules for non-liquid resources

Develop the CMV or EV of a resource for a given month except:

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Do not develop the CMV or EV when specific instructions for developing that resource say not to;
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Do not develop the EV if the CMV of all countable resources does not exceed the applicable resource limit; or
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Accept the allegation and do not develop the CMV or EV if the individual is ineligible because of alleged resources or is ineligible for any other reason and does not qualify for conditional benefits per SI 01150.200.

E. Appeals related to a particular resource

If a claimant appeals a denial related to a particular resource, the evidence in file or on the evidence screen must clearly establish the value of that resource even if the issue under appeal is not the value itself (e.g., when the issue under appeal is ownership).

If an allegation conflicts with existing evidence, resolve the discrepancy. For more information, see What is Evidence GN 00301.010 and Resolving Conflicts in Evidence GN 00301.040.

These requirements ensure that at each level in the appeals process, the evidence screen or file contains complete documentation of the resource in question.

F. Examples of when tolerance does or does not apply

1. Tolerance applies

A claimant has a scheduled RZ in July 2025 and alleges the following resources:

$200 Savings account designated for burial

$400 Non-home real property

$50 Checking account

$100 Certificate of Deposit (CD)

$300 CSV of countable life insurance

= $1050 Total

$350 Liquid resources

Excludable burial funds in an FI account plus countable liquid resources (savings account for burial, checking account, and CD) do not exceed $400 (treat the $300 life insurance CSV, as well as the $400 in non-home real property, as a non-liquid resource). The liquid resource verification tolerance applies because the total amount of liquid resources (including the burial funds held in an FI account) is below $400. There is no need to verify the value of liquid resources.

2. Tolerance does not apply

The claimant from example 1 calls the office the following day and changes their allegation after checking their records. The claimant’s new resource allegations are:

$400 Savings account designated for burial

$400 Non-home real property

$275 Checking account

$200 CD

$300 CSV of countable life insurance

= $1,575 Total

$875 Liquid resources

The liquid resource development tolerance does not apply because the total amount of liquid resources (including the burial account, checking account, and CD) is $400 or more.

3. Tolerance does not apply

Tracy and Jane Smith, a married couple living together, are both receiving SSI. During an RZ, they allege the following resources:

Tracy Smith:

$35 Cash

$200 Joint checking account

$500 CSV of countable life insurance

Jane Smith:

$20 Cash

$100 Checking account

$250 Savings account

= $1105 Total

$605 Liquid resources

Liquid resource development during RZs may be subject to the $400 liquid resource development tolerance. However, in this example, it does not apply because the combined total amount of liquid resources in the form of cash and FI accounts is $400 or more.

4. Applying the tolerance to other resources after FI verification during an initial claim

During an initial claim for an aged individual, the SSI applicant alleges they have:

$20 in a checking account, and

$100 in a CD.

The total liquid resource allegation is $120. Because the CS is processing an initial claim, the CS runs AFI to verify the FI account balance and conduct a geographical search, regardless of the amount of alleged resources.

The AFI response verifies the checking account balance was $19, and no other accounts were found. After considering the verified FI account balance, liquid resources are valued at $119 ($19 in the checking account and the alleged $100 CD) and are still under the $400 tolerance. Therefore, the CS does not need to verify the CD value.

If the AFI verification showed $350 instead of $19, the CS would need to verify the CD. Liquid resources would be valued at $450 ($350 in the checking account and $100 CD) and the $400 liquid resource verification tolerance would no longer apply.

5. Tolerance does not apply during an RZ with a resource-related diary

During a scheduled RZ, the recipient alleges having no resources except for a Direct Express card with no more than $5 on it at the end of each month. However, there is a 5B diary associated with this RZ. When asked about it, the claimant alleges winning a $1,000 cash prize from the local radio station last year and spending it all within the month of receipt. Even though the recipient alleged resources are below the tolerance for the entire period of review, the presence of a 5B diary during an RZ or LI is an exception to the tolerance. The CS runs an AFI search following SI 01140.206E to verify the Direct Express card balance.

G. Guidelines for photocopies

1. U.S. Government securities and obligations

It is legal to photocopy checks issued by the Federal Government, U.S. Savings Bonds, Treasury notes, and other securities and obligations of the U.S. Government only if the photocopies are:

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in black and white, and
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of a size, less than three-fourths or more than one and one-half in linear dimension, of each part of the item illustrated.

2. Photocopying is not legal

If equipment limitations or restrictions imposed by State or Federal law do not permit legal photocopying of a document, make a certification (i.e., place or record the data in Shared Processes) from the original document involved.

If the document appears to have been altered in some way, certify it “as is” with a notation as to the apparent alteration. For additional information, see Photocopying Process, GN 00301.280.

H. References

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SI 01100.000 Resources
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SI 01140.200 Checking and Savings Accounts
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SI 01140.205 Joint Checking and Savings Accounts
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SI 01140.206 Electronic Financial Institution Verification

Social Security

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)

SI 01140.010 Resource Verification Requirements