Understanding Supplemental Security Income
Redeterminations2008 Edition

  WHAT  IS  A  REDETERMINATION?  

We review your income, resources, and living arrangements to be sure you are still eligible for SSI and are getting the right amount of SSI benefits.

If you are married to someone not receiving SSI benefits or you are a disabled child under age 18 living with your parent(s), we also review the income, resources, and living arrangements of your spouse or parent(s).

We also do a disability redetermination using the adult disability rules when a child attains age 18. See our chapter on CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEWS.

  WHEN  DO  WE  CONDUCT  A  REDETERMINATION?  

We select some beneficiaries for a redetermination within three months after we award benefits. After that, we redetermine eligibility and benefit amounts of most beneficiaries once every one to six years.

Sometimes when you report a change that affects eligibility or payment (e.g., marriage), we may review your income, resources, and living arrangements.

  HOW  DO  WE  DO  A  REDETERMINATION?  

There are three ways that we do a redetermination:

	by telephone interview;
	in person; or
	by mail.

For telephone and in–person interviews, we send a letter telling you that we will be calling you on a certain date and time, or asking you to come into the local Social Security office for a redetermination. Our staff will fill out the forms during the interview based on information you give to them. If you have a representative payee, we will send the appointment letter to your payee.

If you are not able to make the scheduled appointment, call us; we will make a new appointment that is more convenient.

If we do your redetermination by mail, we will send you a short redetermination form for you to complete, sign and return.

If you have a representative payee, he or she must complete and sign the redetermination form for you.

If you need help completing a redetermination form you receive in the mail, call us or visit your local Social Security office. Our staff will help you fill it out.

  RESPONDING  TO  THE  APPOINTMENT  LETTER  OR  
  THE  REQUEST  TO  COMPLETE  FORMS  

You have 30 days to:

	respond to the appointment letter;
	complete and return the form; or
	tell us that you cannot keep the appointment or are having trouble filling out the form.

It is to your advantage to respond to our requests as soon as possible.

  WHAT  HAPPENS  IF  YOU  DO  NOT  RESPOND  TO  
  THE  APPOINTMENT  LETTER  OR  COMPLETE  AND                        
  RETURN  THE  FORM?  

If you do not respond, you may:

	have your checks stopped;
	be overpaid; or
	be underpaid.

If you lose SSI eligibility, you may lose Medicaid eligibility based on getting SSI benefits.

  DOCUMENTS  YOU  MAY  NEED  FOR  A  REDETERMINATION        

You may need to provide the following documents:

	savings account, checking account, or other bank statements;
	pay stubs or income tax returns;
	proof of other income you receive (e.g., pensions, annuities, unemployment compensation, worker's compensation, etc.);
	life insurance policies;
	burial contracts; and
	household receipts (lease, utilities, etc.).

We may not need all of these documents. If a document is necessary, we will tell you what you need and help you get it.