In What Situations Would Deeming be Likely to Occur?
PARENT-TO-CHILD DEEMING:
Parent-to-child deeming only applies to deeming of income and
resources from an ineligible parent (or parents) to an SSI eligible
child below the age of 18. Once the child reaches age 18, deeming
of income and resources from her/his parent(s) no longer applies.
Generally, the child needs to be living with her/his parent(s),
but there are some exceptions to living outside of a parent's
home when parent-to-child deeming could apply. There are also
several very limited situations in which SSA may waive parental
income and resource deeming. This is described in greater detail
in the VCU-BARC Briefing Paper on Parent-to-Child Deeming --
Parent
to Child-PDF | Parent
to Child-Word | Parent
to Child-Text
SPOUSE-TO-SPOUSE DEEMING:
Spouse-to-spouse deeming only applies to the deeming of income
and resources from a spouse that is not eligible for SSI to a
spouse that is eligible for SSI. If both members of a married
couple are SSI eligible, another set of rules would apply. Generally,
spouse-to-spouse deeming applies only when the two spouses live
together in the same household, but there are some exceptions.
In some situations, individuals who are not legally married may
be treated as a married couple for the purposes of deeming.
SPONSOR-TO-ALIEN DEEMING:
Sponsor-to-alien deeming only applies to deeming the income and/or
resources of an ineligible individual (and the individual's ineligible
spouse if the individual is married) who sponsors an alien's legal
entry into the United States. Deeming applies whether or not the
alien lives with the sponsor.
OTHER DEEMING SITUATIONS:
Deeming is one of the most complex components of the SSI program.
In addition to the three common deeming situations described above,
there are also situations SSA refers to as multiple deeming, essential
person deeming, and special deeming. Multiple deeming is the most
common and it involves situations in which multiple SSI eligible
claimants reside in a household. For example, multiple deeming
would occur if an SSI recipient were married to an ineligible
spouse, and had an SSI eligible child in the household. This situation
would involve both parent-to-child and spouse-to-spouse deeming.
Essential person and special deeming are historical and dated
at this point in time.
POMS
Resources:
