[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14959-14960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7831]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Social Security Ruling SSR 97-1p. Title XVI: Supplemental 
Security Income--Income--When Inheritances Become Income

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Social Security ruling.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with 20 CFR 422.406(b)(1), the Acting 
Commissioner of Social Security gives notice of Social Security Ruling 
SSR 97-1p. This Policy Interpretation Ruling clarifies the Social 
Security Administration's longstanding policy that State law must be 
taken into account in determining the point at which an inheritance 
becomes income under Title XVI, Supplemental Security Income for the 
Aged, Blind, and Disabled, of the Social Security Act. That is, the 
earliest point at which an inheritance can become income under Title 
XVI is the point at which the individual is free, under applicable 
State inheritance laws, to spend his or her inheritance (if it is cash) 
or to convert his or her inheritance to cash (if it is not cash).

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 28, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne K. Castello, Division of 
Regulations and Rulings, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235, (410) 965-1711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although we are not required to do so 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1) and (a)(2), we are publishing this 
Social Security Ruling in accordance with 20 CFR 422.406(b)(1).
    Social Security Rulings make available to the public precedential 
decisions relating to the Federal old-age, survivors, disability, 
supplemental security income, and black lung benefits programs. Social 
Security Rulings may be based on case decisions made at all 
administrative levels of adjudication, Federal court decisions, 
Commissioner's decisions, opinions of the Office of the General 
Counsel, and other policy interpretations of the law and regulations.
    Although Social Security Rulings do not have the force and effect 
of the law or regulations, they are binding on all components of the 
Social Security Administration, in accordance with 20 CFR 
422.406(b)(1), and are to be relied upon as precedents in adjudicating 
cases.
    If this Social Security Ruling is later superseded, modified, or 
rescinded, we will publish a notice in the Federal Register to that 
effect.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, Program 96.006 Supplemental 
Security Income.)


[[Page 14960]]


    Dated: March 21, 1997.
John J. Callahan,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

Policy Interpretation Ruling; Title XVI: Supplemental Security 
Income--Income--When Inheritances Become Income

    Purpose: To clarify the Social Security Administration's (SSA) 
longstanding policy that State law must be taken into account in 
determining the point at which an inheritance becomes income for 
purposes of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
    Citations (Authority): Section 1612(a)(2)(E) of the Social Security 
Act; Regulations No. 16, Subpart K, sections 416.1102, 416.1121(g), and 
416.1123(a).
    Pertinent History: The point at which something becomes income 
under the SSI program derives from the regulatory definition of income 
at 20 CFR 416.1102. Income is something an individual receives and can 
use to meet food, clothing, or shelter needs. An implicit requirement 
of this definition is that, for property other than cash to be 
considered income, the individual who receives it must have the legal 
right, authority, and power to convert it to cash (by selling it, for 
example). The point at which something becomes income is, necessarily, 
the point at which it first meets this criterion.
    The earliest point at which a cash inheritance can be used to meet 
food, clothing, or shelter needs is the point at which State 
inheritance laws permit the heir to spend it. The earliest point at 
which inherited property other than cash can be used to meet food, 
clothing, or shelter needs is the point at which State inheritance laws 
permit the heir to convert the property (or his or her interest in it) 
to cash.
    In some States, an heir cannot dispose of an inheritance until the 
estate is closed. When this is the case, the inheritance does not meet 
the regulatory criteria to be considered income until the estate is 
closed. In other States, an heir may receive a contingency interest in 
real property at the time of the decedent's death. The heir can sell 
this contingency interest immediately, even though perfect title to the 
property cannot be conveyed until the estate is closed and the value of 
the property may be reduced accordingly or be difficult to determine. 
However, when the contingency interest can be valued, this interest 
meets the regulatory criteria to be considered income at the time of 
the decedent's death.
    Since State law governs the point at which inherited property first 
meets the regulatory criteria for being considered income, State law 
must be taken into account in determining the point at which inherited 
property becomes income under the SSI program. This includes cases in 
which State law permits an heir to convert inherited property to cash 
prior to distribution of the assets, since failure to consider such 
property as income unless and until the assets are distributed would 
not be consistent with regulations.
    Policy Interpretation: The earliest point at which an inheritance 
can become income under the SSI program is the point at which the 
individual is free, under applicable State inheritance laws, to spend 
the inheritance (if it is cash) or to convert the inheritance to cash 
(if it is not cash).
    Effective Date: This Ruling which merely clarifies SSA's 
longstanding policy on the treatment of inheritances is effective on 
March 28, 1997.
    Cross-Reference: Program Operations Manual System, Part 5, Chapter 
008, Subchapter 30, Section SI 00830.550.

[FR Doc. 97-7831 Filed 3-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P