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4112 Volume III | Chapter 4

GENERAL INFORMATION Payments from benefits, pensions, and compensations must be considered in determining financial need and amount of payment. These payments are usually received monthly or weekly and are continuous. However, some benefits are received for short periods. Also, some persons are entitled to and receive retroactive payments for past periods. The eligibility worker is responsible for keeping relatively well informed of the general eligibility requirements for each type of benefit in order to be able to evaluate the information given by the applicant. An applicant or member of the family who appears to be potentially eligible for a benefit will be required to apply for it. If he/she refuses, the individual cannot be considered needy as this raises a question as to complete information on income. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cannot be granted to a family when a legal parent in the home refuses to apply for a possible benefit. Exceptions: (a) individuals who are eligible for both TANF and SSI have the right to choose TANF and (b) pensioners receiving the reduced Veterans Administration pensions are not required to reapply for the improved pension. For persons who are willing to apply for a possible benefit, the worker will assist the person, secure verification, and set up a tickler to check on the results of the claim. A family will be eligible for assistance while the claim is being processed provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. It is not possible to list all potential sources of income, benefits, pensions, or compensations and the methods of verification; however, the following material contains information regarding the most common ones. SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS - RETIREMENT, SURVIVORS, AND DISABILITY INSURANCE (RSDI) This program is administered by the Social Security Administration for the purpose of providing workers and their families with a partial replacement of loss of income due to retirement, disability, or death of the worker and with certain types of medical care. The amount of the payment made to the worker or his dependents is based on the wages which the worker received and the amount of social security taxes paid before he retired, became disabled, or died. In some instances this employment includes military service and employment with the railroads.

Volume III | Chapter 4 4200 MISSISSIPPI [ INCOME: UNEARNED INCOME ] Revised 05 - 01 - 06