TN 254 (10-24)
CITATIONS:
Dividends and interest are returns on capital investments such as stocks, bonds, or savings accounts.
NOTE: A cash gift or incentive payment to open an account (e.g., checking, savings, certificate of deposit) is considered interest.
If not excluded, dividends and interest are unearned income at the earlier of the following:
the month they are credited to an individual's account and are available for use;
the month they are set aside for the individual's use; or
the month they are received by the individual.
NOTE: Account service fees or penalties for early withdrawal do not reduce the amount of interest or dividend income.
Section 430 of P.L. 108-203, Social Security Protection Act of 2004, provides that dividends or interest earned on resources not excluded under §1613(a) of the Social Security Act or excluded under other Federal statutes are excluded income for SSI benefits payable on or after July 1, 2004.
The following describes when dividends or interest are considered income or excluded income:
When the source of the dividend or interest is...
under
then...
a countable resource
SI 01110.001B.2.
the dividends or interest are excluded income.
an excluded resource
a Federal statute other than the Social Security Act SI 01130.050
§1613(a) of the Social Security Act SI 01130.050
See the appropriate POMS section related to the resource exclusion for treatment of interest or dividends.
The following describes when dividends or interest are considered unearned income:
When the source of dividends or interest is a...
and it...
financial institution
credits income to a customer account,
the interest is income.
computes or compounds interest or updates its own records but does not report income to a customer account,
the interest is not income.
series E/EE U.S. savings bond
was purchased by the owner; or was a gift to the owner prior to the expiration of the minimum retention period,
the interest is not income upon receipt or upon expiration of the minimum retention period.
Rationale: When series E/EE bonds are redeemed, the interest is an increase in the value of a resource; it is not income.
was a gift to the owner after expiration of the minimum retention period
the bond produces income equal to the purchase price plus accrued interest through the month the individual receives it.
series H/HH U.S. savings bonds
makes a semi-annual interest payment,
the interest is income when available to the individual.
was a gift to the owner after expiration of the minimum retention period,
life insurance policy
pays dividends,
the dividends are not income.
pays interest on dividends accumulations,
the interest is income (this is the case even when the policy is not a resource; i.e., face value is under $1,500).
promissory note or other loan agreement
pays interest; or pays principal and interest in the same payment,
the interest only is income. Rationale: the principal amount represents conversion of a resource.
When it has been determined the dividend or interest income is excluded from income counting under P.L. 108-203 beginning with benefits payable on or after July 1, 2004, it is not necessary to develop this interest income. Remove the “R” type income for any month that affects the SSI payment effective July 2004 or later if it is excluded under SI 00830.500C.” Follow the normal reopening procedures in SI 04070.010F.3.
NOTE: However, the interest or dividends may be countable resources if retained into the following month.
In redeterminations, develop countable interest income only if the total alleged value of all countable liquid resources is more than $1,250. If the total alleged value of all countable liquid resources is $1,250 or less, do not ask the individual about interest income and do not contact the financial institution. Do not modify any existing associated type “R” income entry on the record.
NOTE: If the individual voluntarily reports a change in interest income, accept the allegation and make the appropriate changes to the “R” income entry on the record based on the allegation.
If you must develop dividends or interest, use the chart below to verify and document frequency and amount. Input the amount as verified.
If the payer is a...
and the owner...
financial institution that pays interest
alleges countable liquid resources within the applicable statutory limit (SI 01110.003),
verify by accepting their statement either signed or recorded on the Report of Contact page as to:
type of account;
whether it pays interest; and if so,
the frequency and amount.
REMINDER: Contact with the financial institution is not necessary.
alleges countable liquid resources in excess of the statutory limit,
accept the allegations as to the three points listed above and stop development. The individual is not eligible.
alleges joint ownership of an interest-bearing account,
see SI 00810.130.
alleges interest income,
verify amount and frequency of interest income with a check or notice issued by the source or an amortization table. If one of these is not available, see SI 00830.005 on developing unearned income.
NOTE: If interest income is excludable because it is received infrequently or irregularly, see SI 00810.410.
does not know whether interest income is received or due, or does not know the amount of interest income,
inspect the loan agreement for the needed information; or
if necessary, consult an amortization schedule.
accept the allegation and stop development. The individual is not eligible.
source of interest different from above
has a check or award notice from the payer,
document the file with a copy of the check or award notice.
does not have a check or award notice,
see SI 00830.005 on developing unearned income.
source of dividends
has a check or dividend notice from the payer,
use the check or dividend notice from the source as verification; or if necessary, see SI 00830.005 on developing unearned income.
receives payment in a form other than cash (e.g., shares of stock),
determine the value as income under instructions specific to that item.
Use the following procedure to resolve discrepancies when an individual disagrees with the amount and/or frequency of interest or dividend payments as shown on account records or IRS interface alerts:
If the income on an account record or IRS interface alert is...
and...
totally excludable
———
no resolution is necessary.
not totally excludable
the individual has a reasonable explanation for the discrepancy
accept allegation; and
document the file with statement either signed or recorded on the Report of Contact page if the new allegation changes the payment amount.
the individual does not have a reasonable explanation for the discrepancy
see SI 02310.048B.12.
Unless there is evidence to the contrary, assume that interest or dividend payments will continue at the current amount and frequency.
These are some (not all) of the exclusions that may apply to dividend or interest income:
Infrequent or irregular income, see SI 00810.410
Interest on and appreciation in value of excluded burial funds, see SI 00830.501
Interest on disaster assistance funds, see SI 00830.620B.3
Interest on funds to replace certain excluded resources, see SI 01130.620 - SI 01130.630
IRS interface alerts, see SI 02310.040 - SI 02310.100
Development of unearned income in redeterminations, see SI 02305.099