To determine the amount of SSI benefits, which would be paid to an individual, it
is necessary to consider the countable income that must be applied against his or
her Federal benefit rate (FBR). It is also necessary to consider other factors which
affect payment for particular quarters or months within the quarter (e.g.. death.
absence from the U.S., change in income and/or resources, hospitalization, living
in the household of another, divorce, or marriage). In the following sections, computations
resulting from these various situations are discussed. Examples used throughout this
chapter do not always reflect current FBR's since these amounts are subject to periodic
change (cost-of-living increases).
There are only three types of computations in the SSI program:
In this computation, the total income received in the quarter is considered when determining
the payment for each month.
Use a quarterly computation:
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even if all months in the quarter do not have the same FBR.
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even if there are one or two months of ineligibility in the quarter.
In this computation, the income received in each month is considered separately when
determining the payment for each month. Only the income received in that month affects
the payment for that month.
Use the monthly computation:
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in the initial quarter of eligibility when the SSI recipient files an application
in the second or third month of a quarter.
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when a presumptive disability or blindness finding is effective with the second or
third month of a quarter.
3. Short Quarter Computation
In this computation, the calendar quarter is divided into one-month or two-month segments.
Only the income received in the applicable segment is considered in determining the
countable income and the resulting payment amount for the short quarter.
Use the short quarter computation when a change in "couple status" is effective in
the second or third month of a quarter.
Examples include:
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An eligible individual becomes a member of an eligible couple
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An eligible couple dissolves
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Spouse -to- spouse deeming does not apply for one or two months in a quarter.
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One member of an eligible couple is in a medical treatment facility for a full calendar
month. (Additionally. the facility receives payments for providing this treatment
under a State plan approved under title XIX that covers a substantial part of the
cost of the stay.)