Effective Dates: 09/29/2017 - Present Previous | Next

TN 7 (09-17)

DI 60099.035 Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND) Participation Period

A. Qualifying for the BOND participation period

1. BOND participation period

A BOND participant in the project is eligible for the $1 for $2 offset for a maximum of 60 months. A beneficiary is only eligible for one 60-month participation period. This fixed 60-month period is the BOND participation period.

2. Expedited reinstatement (EXR) participants

EXR participants must complete the 24-month initial reinstatement period (IRP) and the trial work period (TWP) by September 30, 2017, to qualify for the BOND participation period.

The 60-month participation period for EXR participants begins after the 24-month IRP, providing the IRP and an additional TWP are complete prior to September 30, 2017.

IMPORTANT: When the claimant is making the EXR versus IC choice, they need to clearly understand how this will work if they pick EXR. They will not be eligible for the BOND offset computation until the 24-month IRP and TWP is completed, and their benefits are ceased due to SGA under normal rules. Since they must complete their new TWP by 09/30/2017 to be eligible for BOND offset, if the 24-month IRP begins after 1/2015 they will never be able to use the offset. This information should be included in your explanation to BOND beneficiaries.

3. TWP not completed by September 30, 2017

Participants who have not completed the TWP by September 30, 2017, will not qualify for the BOND participation period and must return to the usual SGA rules effective October 1, 2017. For more information on BOND participants, see DI 60090.015.

 

B. Start and end date of BOND participation

1. Start date

The participation period begins with the first month after completion of the TWP or the month after random assignment to a treatment group, whichever comes later.

If the beneficiary is currently dually entitled to disability benefits, (i.e., HA/CDB or HA/DWB) the earliest TWP completion date between the two records is compared to the random assignment date to determine the start date of participation for both entitlements.

2. End date

The participation period ends the last day of the 60th month from the start date of participation. The participation period starting and ending dates are on the DEMO screen in the Disability Control File (DCF).

C. Disability entitlement terminated prior to random assignment

A BOND participant whose disability benefits terminated before the month of random assignment to a BOND treatment group, is eligible for the $1 for $2 offset rules and qualifies for the BOND participation period if:

  • •

    Disability benefits terminate for any reason other than those listed in DI 60099.035E in this section;

  • •

    The BOND participant becomes re-entitled to a title II disability benefit based on a new application for disability benefits or through EXR, and;

  • •

    The BOND participant completes the TWP prior to September 30, 2017. (See DI 60099.030D for a discussion of factors to consider in the choice between filing for EXR versus a new claim when the person is a BOND participant).

D. Disability entitlement terminated during the participation period

1. Termination due to substantial gainful activity (SGA)

If a BOND participant’s entitlement to disability benefits terminated due to SGA in the month of random assignment to the BOND project or during the participation period, reopen the termination decision and apply the $1 for $2 offset rules. Normal SGA rules apply to the month of random assignment.

2. Termination not due to SGA

If a BOND participant’s entitlement to disability benefits terminated for a non-SGA reason (other than those listed in DI 60099.035E in this section.) after the month of random assignment and the participant completed the TWP, the beneficiary’s participation period continues despite not being entitled to benefits.

E. Disability re-entitlement during the participation period

If the beneficiary becomes re-entitled based on a new application for disability benefits or EXR, he or she must complete the TWP and SGA cessation prior to the end date of participation to qualify for the $1 for $2 offset.

F. Termination of BOND participation period prior to the end date of participation

When the following events occur during the BOND participation period, the BOND participation period ends the month prior to the month of:

  • •

    death,

  • •

    effective date of withdrawal (stage 2 BOND participants only), or

  • •

    attainment of full retirement insurance benefits (RIB), even though entitlement to disability insurance benefits (DIB) technically continues (i.e., DIB to RIB or DWB to Widow(er)’s Insurance benefits (WIB).

NOTE: It is possible for a beneficiary to be simultaneously entitled to a benefit based on disability and a benefit not based on disability (e.g. HA/DWB) and full retirement is attained on one of these entitlements, but not the other. If this occurs after the BOND participation period begins, the 60-month period terminates for the non-disability based entitlement (retirement or survivor benefit) but continues for the DIB entitlement.

G. BOND participation period ends

1. BOND participant

a. BOND participant completes the TWP

If a BOND participant completes the TWP by September 30, 2017, but never goes into offset during the 60 month BOND participation period, he or she returns to the normal substantial gainful activity (SGA) rules to evaluate any work activity effective with the month after the end date of the participation period.

b. BOND participant did not complete the TWP by September 30, 2017

BOND participants who do not complete their TWP by September 30, 2017 will not qualify for the BOND participation period, and must return to the usual program rules, effective October 1, 2017.

2. BOND beneficiary

eWork protects the BOND participation period displayed in the DCF by showing the protected months in pink. This ensures proper handling of earnings during the BOND demonstration period. A FO can adjudicate a work review under normal rules beginning the month after BOND participation ends. Earnings during the BOND participation period are not subject to SGA rules and the Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support (ORDES) will not post these earnings to the disability control file (DCF) as SGA earnings.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0460099035
DI 60099.035 - Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND) Participation Period - 09/29/2017
Batch run: 09/29/2017
Rev:09/29/2017