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| Benefits Highlights |
| SSI and the 12-month Suspension Period The 12 month suspension period is an important safety net for SSI recipients. We should be discussing this provision with all SSI recipients we counsel!! A suspension is a loss of SSI benefits or 1619(b) extended Medicaid coverage. It is always effective the first day of a month in which an individual no longer meets all SSI eligibility requirements. This may be because of excess resources or income (earned or unearned), being incarcerated in a penal institution, no longer meeting the citizenship requirements - whatever. An individual has 12 consecutive months after the effective date of a suspension to regain eligibility and have benefits reinstated without having to file a new application. Suspension is NOT the same as termination. Termination means the record has been completely closed. A person in suspension status is not getting benefits, but is still in the SSA computer system. The SSA computer system automatically terminates certain SSI records after 12 consecutive suspension months are posted. See SI 02301.205 about this process and how to reestablish eligibility after a 12 month suspension period. Most recipients even get a written warning from SSA when they are close to being terminated - towards the end of the 12 month suspension period. Suspension applies to SSI recipients in all statuses:
There is NO limit to the number of times a recipient may move into suspension status. Medical recovery causes termination, not suspension. A person in suspension status who is determined to no longer be disabled will be terminated. Once a person is terminated due to medical recovery, they either have to appeal and be re-instated, requested Expedited Reinstatement, or re-apply for benefits under a new period of entitlement. |