SSR 76-10: SECTION 1631(b) (42 U.S.C. 1383(b)) -- SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME -- DISPOSITION OF UNDERPAYMENT

20 CFR 416.542(b)

SSR 76-10

The general issue to be determined is whether the husband is an eligible

recipient of supplemental security income underpayments due his deceased

wife.

The specific issue on which findings will be made and conclusions will be

reached, is whether the surviving husband is an eligible member of a

couple to receive the benefits due his deceased wife who, at the time of

her death, was a resident of a nursing home in which he did not reside.

On November 26, 1974, the husband filed an application for himself and as

a representative for his aged and disabled wife. She had been confined to

a nursing home since June 2, 1971. According to the husband's testimony,

his and his wife's savings were used to maintain her in the nursing home,

and there was no assistance from Federal or State funds. He and his wife,

prior to her need for care in the nursing home, had maintained a home

together since their marriage on December 18, 1910.

His claim for benefits was processed expeditiously, and he commenced

receiving payments with a monthly check about January 1, 1975, and a

retroactive benefit check thereafter on January 6, 1975. On January 7,

1975, he inquired regarding his wife's supplemental security benefits

which had not yet been received. On January 19, 1975, she passed away. On

January 21, 1975, the surviving spouse filed a claim for the amounts due

in the case of his deceased wife.

On January 22, 1975, he was advised by letter from the Social Security

Administration that:

On January 28, 1975, he was sent a further letter from the Social

Security Office, stating that his wife was eligible to receive the

supplemental security income payment.

On his request for reconsideration, the reason for reconsideration

was:

A Notice of Decision letter was sent advising him that:

n January 22, 1975, he was advised by letter from the Social Security

Administration that:

On January 28, 1975, he was sent a further letter from the Social

Security Office, stating that his wife was eligible to receive the

supplemental security income payment.

On his request for reconsideration, the reason for reconsideration

was:

A Notice of Decision letter was sent advising him that:

The first letter to the husband, dated January 22, 1975, was incomplete

in that it did not specify that the surviving spouse had to be living in

the same household with the deceased spouse at the time of death in order

to qualify for the unpaid benefits. This omission was covered in the

Notice of Decision letter of February 24, 1975.

On February 25, 1975, the spouse signed a request for hearing which

stated:

The deceased wife was not receiving Title XIX Medicaid and was not in a

public institution. She was entitled to supplemental security income

benefits to supplement her Title II social security payments.

After careful consideration of the evidence in this case, it is clear

that because of the care she required, the deceased wife was in a private

nursing home from June 2, 1971, until the date of her death on January 19,

1975. Although their separation was not due to marital difficulties, they

were, in fact, living in separate households from each other at the time

of her death. The social security office correctly took two applications

from the husband when he filed applications on November 26, 1974. The

benefits payable to each eligible individual living in a separate

household is greater than the benefits paid to the two as a couple. Had

the wife lived, she and her husband would have received more benefits over

a period of time as eligible individuals than they would have as an

eligible couple. This may well be the legislative reason that the

surviving spouse of an eligible couple is entitled to receive the unpaid

benefits of his deceased spouse.

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household is greater than the benefits paid to the two as a couple. Had

the wife lived, she and her husband would have received more benefits over

a period of time as eligible individuals than they would have as an

eligible couple. This may well be the legislative reason that the

surviving spouse of an eligible couple is entitled to receive the unpaid

benefits of his deceased spouse.

The supplemental security income program is a creature of statute, and

the administrative law judge must be guided by the legislation and

regulations pertaining to the creation of the program. As inequitable or

unfair as it may appear to the surviving spouse that his wife's

application was not as promptly processed and paid as his, nonetheless,

delay did occur, and because they were living separately when she died on

January 19, 1975, he is not eligible to receive her unpaid benefits.

It is the decision of the administrative law judge that the underpayment

due the deceased individual cannot be legally paid to her surviving spouse

because they were living in separate accommodations at the time of her

death, and he did not meet the requirements of Section 416.542(b) of

Regulations No. 16.