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Chapter: 1800 Income Program: TCA 39 1820.0828 Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (TCA) A provision of the Department of Defense Act for Fiscal year 2001 requires DOD to pay certain military members and their families a Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) of up to $500 per month. The FSSA is available to military members who have completed basic training and whose gross household income is within the food stamp gross income limit for the household size. The food stamp definition of a household is also used when the FSSA is calculated. The FSSA will be counted as unearned income in the TCA, Food Stamp and Medicaid Programs. 1820.0829 Overpayments - Other Assistance Programs (TCA) When benefits from other benefit programs are withheld to recover an overpayment, the portion withheld is excluded as income. 1820.0900 BENEFITS (TCA) Section 1820.0900 (inclusive) discusses types of benefits payable to individuals and their treatment as unearned income, including benefits such as:

1. Unearned Income Verification Social Security payments; 2. private benefit income such as annuities, pensions, retirement, or disability (other than SSA); 3. veterans payments; 4. Agent Orange benefits; 5. workers' compensation; 6. railroad retirement; 7. unemployment benefits; 8. striker support; 9. severance pay; and 10. death benefits. 1820.0901 Verification of Unearned Income (TCA) All non-exempt unearned income must be verified at application and review unless otherwise specified. The following sources may be used to verify unearned income:

1. BENDEX or SDX tapes, 2. SSA award letter, 3. VA award letter, 4. pension or award letter, 5. Unemployment Compensation award letter, and 6. child support court statement and/or current statement from absent parent. 1820.0903 Gross Benefits (TCA) The gross benefit amount received, or anticipated to be received, is considered unearned income. Benefits are owned by the individual for whom they are intended unless the individual is not in the home and the benefits are not redirected. Deductions for optional items such as health insurance and Medicare premiums continue to count as income. 1820.0904.01 SSA Income (TCA) Benefits that are paid by SSA are unearned income for all programs. These types of benefits include Title II Social Security benefits, SSI, special age 72 payments (PROUTY), and black lung benefits.