Source: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/1506805055
Timestamp: 2018-07-22 18:26:25
Document Index: 277314638

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 402', '§ 404', '§ 404', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416']

SSA - POMS: PR 06805.055 - Wisconsin - 08/02/2012
PR 06805.055 Wisconsin
The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Act of 1999 amended section 202(x) of the Social Security Act (Act) to prohibit the payment of Title II benefits where an individual is convicted of a criminal offense and is confined in a penal institution for more than 30 continuous days. 1 See Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, Pub. L. No. 106-170, § 402(b), 113 Stat. 1860, 1907 (1999) (effective April 1, 2000). Section 202(x) of the Act, as amended, provides in pertinent part:
SSA has defined “confinement” broadly. The regulations 2 provide that confinement in a jail, prison, or other penal institution or correctional facility continues as long as the individual is under a sentence of confinement and has not been released due to parole or pardon. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.468(c), 404.1506(d); see also POMS DI 23501.001A.3, GN 02607.001B.2 (defining confinement as “when an individual resides in a correctional or mental health institution”), GN 02607.160A.3 (confinement ends with end of sentence, pardon, or parole); SSR 83-21. Moreover, an individual is considered confined even if he is temporarily or intermittently outside of the facility (e.g., work release program, school attendance, hospitalization, or escape). See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.468(c), 404.1506(d); see also 49 Fed. Reg. 48181, 48182; 48 Fed. Reg. 5711, 5714; POMS GN 02607.160A.3, GN 02607.200C, DI 23501.001A.3. The controlling factor is not whether the individual is physically confined in the facility, but whether the individual, though perhaps outside the facility, is still under a sentence of confinement. See SSR 83-21 (as long as there has been no action by court or other authority to end sentence of confinement, person is still considered confined, even if, for example, he escapes or is released to his home pending reassignment to hospital); POMS GN 02607.160A.3 (individual is confined if he is in custody of a U.S. correctional facility).
There are some exceptions to the general rule that confinement continues despite temporary absences from the prison. First, an individual is not considered confined if he resides outside a penal institution throughout a month at no expense (other than the cost of monitoring) to the institution or to the penal agency or to any agency to which the institution has transferred jurisdiction over the individual. 3 See Section 202(x)(1)(B)(i) of the Act; see also POMS GN 02607.160B.2. Second, the POMS states that benefits should not be suspended for individuals who are placed in home confinement, as they normally reside outside the penal institution at no expense (other than the cost of monitoring) to the institution. See POMS GN 02607.200C. Third, benefits should not be suspended for individuals who participate in a pre-release or community-based early release program (e.g., halfway house) if: 1) they reside outside the penal institution at no expense (other than the cost of monitoring) to the institution, and 2) they pay for their own basic living needs (they must not use any public funds to help support their basic living needs). See id.
Similar to Title II benefits, SSA will suspend an individual’s Title XVI benefits if such individual is an inmate 4 of a public institution (which includes a penal institution) throughout a month. A criminal conviction or court order is not required. Section 1611(e)(1)(A) of the Act provides:
The regulations define “resident of a public institution” as a “person who can receive substantially all of his or her food and shelter while living in a public institution.” 20 C.F.R. § 416.201; see also POMS SI 00520.001B.5; SI 02310.070A.2. “Throughout a month” is defined as residing in an institution as of the beginning of a month and staying the entire month. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.211(a)(2); see also POMS SI 00520.001B.6, SI 02310.070A.3. The regulations also state that an individual remains a resident of a public institution if he is “temporarily absent for a period of not more than 14 consecutive days.” 5 20 C.F.R. § 416.211(a)(2). The POMS further states that ineligibility due to residence in a public institution continues during periods of authorized absence from a penal institution (e.g., seasonal farm work, boot camp, work release program, stay in a hospital or nursing home). See POMS SI 00520.009D.1, SI 02310.070C.1.a.
Thus, SSA has defined “resident of a public institution” broadly. Indeed, for absences from prison of up to 14 consecutive days, the regulations are clear that an individual will still be considered a “resident” for purposes of meeting the “throughout a month” requirement. The agency has not yet addressed in the final regulations the effect of absences greater than 14 consecutive days on the suspension of benefits to prisoners, although it has done so in the POMS. 6 Inasmuch as your inquiry did not concern any prisoner furloughs exceeding 14 consecutive days, this opinion does not address the effect of absences greater than 14 consecutive days. We recommend that the agency consider addressing the inconsistency between the 14-day temporary absence rule in the regulations and the POMS provision which enlarges this rule for prisoners.
Like these examples, we believe that a furlough generally fits within the broad definition of “confinement” for Title II, because an individual who is released on furlough is still under a sentence of confinement, remains in the constructive custody of the correctional facility, and is not released due to parole, pardon, or the end of his sentence. Likewise, we believe that a furlough generally fits within the broad definition of “resident of a public institution” for Title XVI. At a minimum, the agency permits an individual to be physically absent from a prison for up to 14 consecutive days, and still remain a resident of a public institution. Also, a furlough is an authorized absence, and an individual remains ineligible based on residence in a public institution during periods of authorized absences from a penal institution. We believe that our view on prisoner furloughs is consistent with the Act, regulations, and POMS, as well as Congressional intent. 7
D. PR 00-186 Payment of Social Security Benefits When Sentence Has Been Retroactively Reduced by Court Order Kenneth, (your reference number s2d5b5)
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/1506805055
PR 06805.055 - Wisconsin - 08/02/2012