Effective Dates: 08/07/2023 - Present Previous | Next

TN 70 (08-23)

SI 00810.610 How to Estimate Income

A. Operating policy

1. Monthly estimates

Estimate current and future income monthly.

2. Fluctuating income

  • •

    When income fluctuates, use each month's anticipated receipts to estimate income for that month.

  • •

    Do not average.

  • •

    Always consider the number of paydays in any given month.

3. Income expected more than once a month

a. Amount is the same each payday

Multiply the amount by the number of paydays in the month to obtain the monthly amount.

b. Amount varies from payday to payday

Add the individual amounts to obtain a monthly amount.

4. Income expected less than once a month

Determine the specific month(s) of receipt and enter the amount(s) estimated for the appropriate month(s).

B. Operating procedure

NOTE: 

There are income projection programs available on the personal computer which can be used in estimating future wages IRWE, BWE, NESE, and PASS exclusions.

1. When a change occurs

An anticipated change in income occurs when you expect an individual's income to start, to stop, or to come in at a different rate in the future.

2. How to develop a change

When you anticipate an increase in income, use only that income which the individual is reasonably sure he will receive.

Except in self-employment situations (SI 00820.230), do not compute on the basis of an anticipated decrease in or termination of income unless that decrease or termination can be verified. Instead, tell the individual what income has been used in the computation and that he should report immediately when a decrease or termination can actually be verified so that appropriate adjustment can be made.

3. Examples

a. Anticipated Decrease in Income

Danny Kelp, a student child, receives support payments from an absent parent. These payments are $160 a month. In March, Danny's father begins a new job which pays less money. Danny notifies SSA that, based on their father's decrease in salary, Danny expects their support payments to decrease to $125 a month. The FO includes $160 unearned income in Danny's countable income computation, and tells Danny to report immediately when it can be verified that the payments have decreased.

b. Change in Number of Paydays Is Not an Anticipated Change in Income

Gretchen Alden, a blind SSI recipient, receives weekly unemployment compensation of $60 on Wednesdays. Because there are five Wednesdays in August 2023, Gretchen receives five checks during this month. The FO does not consider a factor such as the number of paydays in a month to be a change in income since Gretchen is still receiving the income at the same weekly rate.

C. Documentation

1. What the file must contain

The file must contain the estimates used.

2. Who may provide an estimate

Estimates of income may come from the applicant/recipient, representative payee, worker, or deemor.

3. Frequency code

Unless you have verified that income will stop (e.g., attainment of age l8 which ends deeming), show a frequency code of “C” for the last month of income data entered, regardless of the number of months of entries required.

4. Resolve any discrepancy

If information received from an employer (e.g., on an SSA-L4201) concerning current or future rate of pay is discrepant with an estimate provided by the applicant/recipient, representative payee, worker, or deemor, you must resolve the discrepancy.

5. Additional documentation requirements

See the specific sections dealing with the type(s) of income involved to determine if there are additional documentation requirements.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0500810610
SI 00810.610 - How to Estimate Income - 08/07/2023
Batch run: 08/07/2023
Rev:08/07/2023