POMS Reference

SI 00810: General - Income Rules for the Supplemental Security Income Program

TN 48 (03-05)

Citations:

Social Security Act, section 1612(a);

Regulations - 20 CFR 416.1102, 416.1103

A. Definitions

1. Definition of income beginning 03/09/2005

Income is any item an individual receives in cash or in-kind that can be used to meet his or her need for food or shelter.

Income includes, for the purposes of title XVI, the receipt of any item which can be applied, either directly or by sale or conversion, to meet basic needs of food or shelter.

NOTE: See SI 00835.400 for in-kind support and maintenance policy and procedures pertaining to this regulation change.

2. Definition of income before 03/09/2005

Income is any item an individual receives in cash or in kind that can be used to meet his/her needs for food, clothing, or shelter.

Income includes the receipt of any item which can be applied, either directly or by sale or conversion, to meet basic needs of food, clothing, or shelter.

3. In-kind income beginning 03/09/2005

In-kind income is not cash, but is actually food, or shelter, or some item that can be used to get one of these basic need items.

4. In-kind income before 03/09/2005

In-kind income is not cash, but is actually food, clothing, or shelter, or some item that can be used to get one of these basic need items.

B. Policy - amount of income

Sometimes the countable value of the income is more or less than is actually received. For example:

  • Expenses of obtaining income (less)

  • Garnishment (more)

  • Gross earnings, before any deductions (more).

C. References

SI 00815.001, What is not income

SI 00810.025, Effect of Garnishment

SI 00830.100, Expenses of obtaining income

SI 00820.100, Wages