SSI: Suspension Of Benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits can be suspended for a variety of reasons. There are rules regarding reinstatement of benefits.

Reasons For Suspension Of SSI Benefits

An SSI recipient can be "suspended" from receiving benefits if:

• You become financially or otherwise ineligible.
• You leave the U.S. for 30 days or more.
• • An SSI recipient who leaves the country for more than 30 days will be suspended until 30 days after the person returns to the U.S.
  • After a year, the suspension turns into termination. (If you want to receive SSI after the year, you have to reapply.)
• Technical reasons occur such as:
• • A failure to comply with a request for information.
  • Excess income for the month. (Income is counted in the month received.)
  • Excess resources (Resources are counted in the first moment of the first day of a month.)
• You take up residence in a public institution.
• You become hospitalized for which Medicaid pays more than 50% for more than 90 days.
• You fail to apply for other benefits.
• You are a fleeing felon, prisoner or parole or probation violator.

Suspension Rules

• Benefits suspended for less than 12 consecutive months can be reinstated without having to apply again.
• Benefits suspended for more than 12 consecutive months are terminated.
• Appeals to a suspension must be filed within 60 days of notice of the decision. To receive a continuation of benefit payments, the notice must be appealed within 10 days.
• There may be an overpayment if there is a retroactive suspension or termination. To learn about overpayments, see: Overpayment. The rules are the same.