Effective Dates: 08/26/2024 - Present Previous | Next

TN 75 (08-24)

SI 02301.300 Due Process Protections - General

A. Background

Social Security Administration (SSA) regulation 20 C.F.R. § , which is largely based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding in Goldberg v. Kelly (1970), provides due process protections when SSA plans to suspend, reduce, or terminate an individual’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for non-medical eligibility reasons. Specifically, SSA will not take an adverse action (i.e., suspend, terminate, or reduce SSI payments) without providing advance written notice, the opportunity to appeal, and the opportunity to receive unreduced benefits called Goldberg Kelly (GK) payment continuation pending an appeal determination. These due process protections only apply to initial non-medical determinations that result in a reduction, suspension, or termination of SSI benefits.

NOTE: 

Separate due process protections related to continuing disability determinations for Title II and Title XVI recipients, referred to as statutory benefit continuation (SBC), arise from an amendment of the Social Security Act. Follow the SBC instructions in DI 12027.000 which provide due process in continuing disability cases.

SSA must first issue an advance notice when it intends to take an adverse action for non-medical reasons. The advance notice explains that the individual has 60 days after receiving the notice to file for a reconsideration, which is the first level of appeal. The notice explains that if the individual files the appeal request within 10 days after receiving the notice, SSI payments will continue at the same amount until there is a determination on the reconsideration. The notice also explains that if the individual files the appeal request within 60 days after receiving the notice, SSI payments will be continued or reinstated at the same amount until there is a determination on the reconsideration.

When individuals respond to the advance notice or want to appeal, field office (FO) technicians must fully explain the determination, appeal rights and right to GK payment continuation (see SI 02301.310 for explanations). Individuals, on their own initiative, may choose to waive their automatic right to GK payment continuation, but must do so in writing . However, technicians must NEVER suggest waiver of GK payment continuation or ask specifically if they want to waive GK payment continuation during appeal. Individuals who waive GK payment continuation may change their decision and request reinstatement (including any retroactive payments, if due) as long as the reconsideration determination is pending.

When individuals contact the FO and question or disagree with a determination after the 60-day time limit has expired, technicians will assist them if they want to appeal and will develop good cause for extending the time limits for appeal and GK payment continuation. (For good cause instructions, see GN 03101.020A - Good Cause for Extending the Time Limit to File an Appeal and SI 02301.310 - Appeal and the Right to Goldberg Kelly (GK) Payment Continuation.

As long as an individual remains otherwise eligible (but for the issue under appeal), GK payment continuation ends the month there is determination on the reconsideration. SI 02301.325 - How to Correct the PPL During Appeal (Including COLA) explains how to adjust protected payments due to changes in circumstances that are not under appeal. SI 04020.020B - Requests for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Reconsideration.)

B. Definitions

1. Advance Notice

A GK notice is the advance notice of a proposed SSI adverse action for non-medical reasons. Advance notice is provided by the SSI Notice of Planned Action, Form SSA-L8155. It allows an individual time to appeal the action and continue to receive unreduced benefits.

2. Adverse Action

An adverse action is an action that results in a reduction, suspension, or termination of SSI benefits. It is an initial determination with appeal rights.

3. Adverse Action Month (AVM)

The adverse action month (AVM) is the future month when the adverse action will reduce benefits unless an individual files an appeal within 10 days after receiving the GK notice. An individual may qualify for GK payment continuation in or after the AVM if an individual files an appeal within 60 days of receiving the GK notice or after the 60-day period when good cause exist for extending the time limit.

4. First-of-the-Month Payments

First-of-the-month payments are dated the first day of the month on the Supplemental Security Record (SSR). However, the actual payment to the individual is dated earlier when the first day of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, (see SM 01315.005).

NOTE: 

First-of-the-month payments are produced from the monthly recurring and supplemental payment files. Recurring payments are identified by payment type code 1 in the Pay Flag One field in the Payment History (PMTH) segment on the SSR. Supplemental payments are identified by payment type code 3.

5. Formal Conference

A formal conference is an appeal method at the reconsideration level. It allows the individual to examine the evidence in file, to present witnesses, to present oral and documentary evidence, to request that SSA to obtain evidence and subpoena witnesses, and to be able to cross-examine these witnesses, (see SI 04020.020B.7.).

See SI 04020.050 for additional information about SSI Reconsideration Conferences.

See SI 04005.010 for additional information about the SSI Administrative Review Process.

6. Informal Conference

An informal conference is an appeal method at the reconsideration level. It allows the individual to meet with the SSA decision maker who conducts the conference. Witnesses may also be presented (see SI 04020.050B.2.).

7. Case Review

A case review is a procedural method at the of reconsideration level. It involves a thorough review of all evidence in the file, including evidence submitted by the claimant, their representative or otherwise secured by SSA. No conference is held with the individual.

8. Minimum Benefit Level (MBL)

The MBL is the new benefit amount due after the system posts an adverse action to the record.

9. Monthly Benefit Amount (MBA)

The monthly benefit amount (MBA)is the total of all payments issued in the month and due for that month including first-of-the-month payments, underpayments, amounts (or voided amounts) withheld for overpayment recovery, penalty deductions and returned checks.

10. GK Payment Continuation

GK payment continuation is the term used for continuing or reinstating unreduced benefits until there is a decision at the first level of appeal. GK payment continuation applies only to non-disability determinations which result in a reduction, suspension, or termination of SSI benefits. GK payment continuation ends the month there is a determination on the reconsideration. See SI 02301.310 - Appeal and the Right to Goldberg Kelly (GK) Payment Continuation and SI 02301.313 - Appeal and the Protected Payment Level when a Reconsideration Request is filed 11- 60 Days After Receipt of a Notice of Planned Action for information about appeal and the right to payment continuation.

An individual's record goes into "protected payment status" to maintain or reinstate GK payment continuation. Special manual procedures are then required in most case to correct benefit amounts and issue notices. To correct protected payments due to changes which are under appeal including the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) (see SI 02301.325 - How to Pay the PPL and SI 02301.330 - How to Correct Benefits Based on Appeal Decision.)

11. SBC

SBC is the term used for continuing unreduced benefits during an appeal of a determination that an individual's disability ceased, did not exist, or is no longer disabling. SBC applies only to unfavorable medical disability determinations which result in the suspension or termination of disability benefits.

12. Protected Payment Level (PPL)

The PPL is the monthly benefit amount in effect prior to a proposed adverse action. It is the unreduced benefit amount that a recipient may continue to receive until there is a decision at the first level of appeal. The PPL can change during the appeal period due to changes in the recipient's circumstances or a change in the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) due to a COLA.

13. Reduction in Payment

A reduction in payment is a new monthly payment rate that is less than the payment rate due in the last regular month of payment.

14. GK Temporary Period

The GK temporary period begins the day after the GK notice cutoff (usually between the 7th to 9th day of each month) and ends with the recurring tape cutoff (usually between the 15th to 21st day of the month). During this period, the system can reduce the following month's benefit when the FO produces an online GK notice or issues a manual GK notice. See SI 02301.301C.2.

C. Policy - General

1. Recipients' rights

GK procedures provide recipients with:

  • •

    a written advance notice of an adverse action, and

  • •

    time to question and appeal the action before it occurs, and

  • •

    the right to a formal conference at the reconsideration level of appeal, and

  • •

    the right to continue receiving unreduced benefits until there is a decision at the first level of appeal.

Individuals may not waive written advance notice of an adverse action, but they may waive their right to payment continuation in writing (see SI 02301.310). They may also choose a case review or an informal conference instead of a formal conference (see SI 04020.020B.7.).

See SI 04020.050 for additional information about SSI Reconsideration Conferences.

See SI 04005.010 for additional information about the SSI Administrative Review Process.

2. Explaining recipients' rights

When FOs discuss changes that result in adverse actions with recipients, they explain fully the effect of changes and recipients' rights under GK procedures. Instructions are in SI 02301.310.

D. Policy - Written Advance Notices

1. When advance notice is required

Advance notice is generally required for an adverse action. However, the following situations are exceptions to GK procedures and do not require advance notice:

  • •

    A recipient dies (T01)

  • •

    A recipient's representative payee dies or is no longer available or suitable to act as payee (S08)

  • •

    A recipient's whereabouts are unknown (S06)

  • •

    A check returned for miscellaneous reasons (S07)

  • •

    A recipient voluntarily requests termination (N19)

  • •

    A State assumes responsibility for administration of State supplementary payments

  • •

    An advance notice was previously sent, but the adverse action did not occur.

NOTE: 

When discovering an error where an advance notice was previously sent, but the adverse action did not occur, correct benefits immediately and explain the action on an SSA-L8165-U2 (Important Information) with no appeal rights. The right to appeal and payment continuation may still apply (discussed in SI 02301.310). Apply the rules of administrative finality in SI 04070.000.

2. Who receives advance notice

These individuals receive an advance notice:

  • •

    Legally competent adult recipients

  • •

    Representative payees

  • •

    Both members of an eligible couple when the action reduces the total couple's payment and changes the payment amount to each (even if the result is an increased payment to one member)

  • •

    Appointed representatives and legal guardians. (See NL 00801.001 about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) notification policy and procedures.)

3. Notice forms

The SSI Notice of Planned Action (SSA-L8155) is the form used to provide advance notice. The system issues an automated GK notice on an SSA-L8155-SM (SSI Notice of Planned Action).

An online GK Notice (SSA-L8155) is produced by the system when an adverse action is input during the GK temporary period and selected by the FO to print.

In situations where an automated notice must be suppressed or the notice cannot be produced online, FOs prepare a manual GK notice on an SSA-L8155-U2 (SSI Notice of Planned Action) or on another standard notice form with the appropriate appeal rights.

4. Notice Content

The advance notice must explain:

  • •

    the basis for the adverse action, and

  • •

    how the adverse action affects eligibility and payment amount, and

  • •

    how to appeal, and

  • •

    that unreduced benefits will continue until a decision is made at the first appeal level if the individual files an appeal within 10 days after receiving the notice.

5. Providing the 10-Day Advance Notice

The advance notice must be mailed at least 15 days (or handed to the individual at least 10 days) BEFORE the first day of the adverse action month.

The individual has a full 60 days after the date on the notice to appeal and qualify for GK payment continuation, although the individual's benefits will be interrupted if they do not appeal within 10 days of receipt (i.e. before the adverse action month).

We presume that receipt is 5 days after the date on the mailed notice unless there is a reason to believe otherwise.

See:

  • •

    SI 02301.301 Overview of Goldberg/Kelly (GK) Processing,

  • •

    SI 02301.307 Manual Goldberg Kelly (GK) Notice Procedures, and

  • •

    SM 01305.530 Initial Adverse Action Events Requiring an Online or Manual Notice which explain when the FO must issue a manual or online GK notice.

  • •

    MS 04502.001 Computation Menu (CPMN) and MS 04502.002 Goldberg/Kelly (DBGK) for more information about the GK systems processes.

E. References

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0502301300
SI 02301.300 - Due Process Protections - General - 08/26/2024
Batch run: 11/01/2024
Rev:08/26/2024