An inheritance is cash, a right, or a noncash item(s) received as the result of someone's death.

An inheritance is a death benefit, see SI 00830.545.

Until an item or right has a value and can be used to meet the heir's need for food or shelter, it is neither income nor a resource. The inheritance is income in the first month it has a value and can be used, see SI 00810.005.

When an SSI applicant, recipient, or deemor receives non-home real property (NHRP) as an inheritance, it is unearned in-kind income valued at the current market value (CMV).

See also:

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  SI 00810.020A.2.b and SI 00835.310C for more information on other unearned in-kind income;

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  SI 01110.600B.3 for the treatment of assets under income and resources counting rules; and

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  SI 01140.100 for developing the CMV of NHRP for income counting in the month of receipt and resource counting beginning the month following receipt.

An inheritance is not income to an individual if the inheritance is something which was considered that individual's resource (either as a member of an eligible couple or through deeming of resources) immediately before the deceased person's death.

NOTE: The proceeds of a life insurance policy received as a result of the insured person's death were not a resource before the death, see SI 00830.545D.

You must value the inheritance of a house which is used as shelter under the PMV rule in the month of receipt.

Follow the instructions pertaining to death benefits at SI 00830.545.

To establish when the inheritance is received, check for regional instructions which may explain the effect of individual State laws.

If regional instructions do not specify when an inheritance is “received”, assume the individual derives no income until the earliest of:

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  the date the individual alleges receiving the inheritance (using a statement either signed or recorded on a Report of Contact page from the individual or documents in the individual's possession); or

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  the date the estate is closed (which may be determined by contacting the court or an attorney involved in the closing of the estate).

  NOTE: Given the complexity of estate administration and questions of state law, it may be necessary to consult your regional support staff (RO) when issues arise that cannot be resolved at the field office level.

1. a. 

   Verify the amount or value of the inheritance using:

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     documents in the individual's possession;

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     a court order closing the estate;

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     a copy of the will; or

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     an estimate from a knowledgeable source, if real property is involved.

2. b. 

   Based on what the inheritance is, apply the appropriate instructions for valuing what was received. Depending upon what has been received, some instructions will be found in SI 00810.005 (Income) and some in

   SI 01120.001 (Resources). See SI 00830.550C.