SI 02004.010 Issuing Emergency Advance Payments and Title XVI Immediate Payments

CITATIONS:

Social Security Act § 1631(a)(4)(A); 20 CFR § 416.520

A. Introduction

This section provides guidance for processing and issuing emergency advance payments (EAP) and Supplement Security Income (SSI) immediate payments (IP). Individuals must meet certain requirements to receive an EAP or IP. For more information about EAP and IP requirements and order of payment, refer to SI 02004.001.

Field office (FO) technicians issue EAPs and IPs using the Third Party Payment System (TPPS). Effective 02/09/2026, we issue these payments via a United States Debit Card (USDC). For USDC and TPPS information, refer to TPPS GN 02402.021.

B. Procedure - Emergency advance payment

Take these steps to process and issue an EAP.

1. Computing the emergency payment amount

Compute the individual’s EAP amount, using the SSI Retrospective Monthly (RMA) program or Form SSA-4968 (SSI RMA Payment Worksheet), refer to SI 02005.090. Once the EAP has been paid and recorded on the Supplemental Security Record (SSR), retention of the printout/SSA-4968 is no longer required. Determine the maximum EAP amount payable per SI 02004.001C.

2. Processing the emergency advance payment

Establish, approve, and transmit the EAP in the Modernized Supplemental Security Income Claims System (MSSICS). Refer to SM 01325.002 and MS 00303.008. After establishing and approving the payment on the applicable MSSICS screens, transmit the payment information to the TPPS.

CAUTION: To allow issuance of a USDC from TPPS, establish, approve and transmit the EAP data to the SSR on the same day. Failure to do so will prevent the EAP information from propagating into TPPS and the information will not be sent to the SSR in the overnight batch process.

Use the completed information in MSSICS to issue a USDC for an EAP. The cashier will use the instructions outlined in the TPPS User Guide to transfer the funds to a USDC.

NOTE:

When establishing an EAP, the system interfaces with the EAP database. An individual may receive one EAP per claim SI 02004.001B. If an EAP exists on the database already, another EAP will not be allowed to be paid. If an EAP does not exist on the database, then the EAP is approved and transmitted to the SSR. The database will be updated with the EAP information. An EAP will not be allowed if the current SSR has a prior payment issued. For information about the EAP database, refer to SM 01601.145.

C. Procedure - Title XVI immediate payment

Take these steps to make a Title XVI IP determination.

1. Making a Title XVI determination

Step	Action
1	Is a financial emergency or a potential public relations problem involved? Have all possibilities been exhausted to resolve the emergency? If yes, go to step 2. If no, STOP. Explain no IP can be paid.
2	Is an EAP barred? If yes, go to 3. If no, issue an EAP, as instructed in SI 02004.010B of this section.
3	Has SSI eligibility been established? If yes, go to step 4. If no, and Title II entitlement is established and there is unpaid Title II funds due, evaluate for a Title II immediate payment, refer to RS 02801.010. If no, and Title II entitlement is not established, STOP. Explain no IP can be paid.
4	Is it an initial, delayed, interrupted payment or nonreceipt case? If yes, go to step 5. If no, explain why an IP cannot be made. Pay any SSI due by A-OTP, M-OTP and or expedite the case to put it in regular payment immediately.
5	Obtain approval for an IP from FO management. If making a determination for a concurrent Title II/Title XVI case, evaluate the case to decide from which program to issue the IP, refer to SI 02004.001B.2. Is a Title XVI IP payable? If yes, determine the maximum IP amount payable, refer to SI 02004.001C. Process the payment per SI 02004.010C.2 in this section. If no, take required actions to immediately process the case into regular payment or evaluate for a Title II IP, refer to RS 02801.010. NOTE: The 30-day limit on issuing subsequent IPs no longer applies. However, recipients must meet ALL criteria before we can issue a subsequent IP within 30 days.

2. Processing a Title XVI immediate payment

Establish, approve, and transmit the Title XVI IP in MSSICS. Refer to SM 01325.002 and MS 00303.009. After establishing and approving the payment on the applicable MSSICS screens, transmit the payment information to the TPPS.

CAUTION: To allow issuance of a USDC from TPPS, establish, approve and transmit the IP data to the SSR all on the same day. Failure to do so will prevent the IP information from propagating into TPPS and the information will not be sent to the SSR in the overnight batch process.

Use the completed information in MSSICS to issue a USDC for an IP. The cashier will use the instructions outlined in the TPPS User Guide to transfer the IP funds to the USDC.

D. Procedure - Completing Form SSA-8102 and releasing payment

Before the cashier releases the Emergency Advance Payment or Title XVI Immediate Payment via a USDC, a technician will:

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Complete the fillable Form SSA-8102, (Advance Payment or Immediate Payment Receipt and Notice) template by recording receipt of the EAP or IP. If both members of a couple receive an EAP, complete a separate Form SSA-8102 for each payment. Also, use a separate SSA-8102 when issuing both an EAP and IP for the same individual. The SSA-8102 is also located in the inForm Library per SI 02004.060.
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Print all three copies of the SSA-8102.
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Obtain the recipient or representative payee's signature on all three copies.
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Provide the copies of the SSA-8102 and SSI query to the cashier.
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Upload the "File" copy of the SSA-8102 to the Evidence Portal, refer to GN 00301.322 after the cashier releases the USDC.

The cashier will:

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Review the SSA-8102 to ensure accuracy and that the recipient or representative payee signed all three copies.
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Obtain a Simulated Supplementary Security Record (SSIM) and review the APM field to reflect the payment.
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Issue the USDC to the recipient or their representative payee. For more information about issuing USDC payments through TPPS, refer to GN 02402.021C, AIMS 03.05.07 and the TPPS User Guide.
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Give the copy marked "Claimant" to the beneficiary or representative payee as a receipt and notice.
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Return the "File" copy to the technician.
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Retain the "Cashier" copy and the SSI query as documentation in the TPPS file as required for FO manager audit and review.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0502004010

SI 02004.010 - Issuing Emergency Advance Payments and Title XVI Immediate Payments - 09/18/2026
Batch run: 09/18/2026
Rev:09/18/2026

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)