OAR 461-145-0490: Social Security Benefits

Except for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (see OAR 461-145-0510) and death benefits remaining after burial costs (see OAR 461-145-0500), Social Security benefits are treated as follows: (1) Monthly payments are counted as unearned income. (2) Except as provided in sections (3) and (4) of this rule, all payments other than monthly payments are counted as periodic or lump-sum income (see OAR 461-140-0110 and 461-140-0120). (3) In the REF, REFM, SNAP, TA-DVS, and TANF programs, the representative payee fee paid by an individual who is required by the Social Security Administration to receive payments through a representative payee is excluded. The amount of the exclusion is limited to the amount authorized by the Social Security Administration. (4) In the OSIP, OSIPM, and all QMB programs: (a) For the purposes of this section, a payment is retroactive if it is issued in any month after the calendar month for which it is intended. (b) Retroactive payments are counted as unearned income in the month of receipt except as provided in subsection (c) of this section. (c) When retroactive payments are made through the representative payee of an individual who is required to have a representative payee because of a drug or alcohol use disorder, the retroactive payments may be required to be made in installments. If the payments are made in installments, the total of the benefits to be paid in installments is considered unearned income in the month in which the first installment is made. (d) Except in the QMB-BAS, QMB-SMB, and QMB-SMF programs, any remaining amount from a retroactive payment after the month of receipt is excluded as a resource for nine calendar months following the month in which the payment is received. After the nine-month period, any remaining amount is a countable (see OAR 461-001-0000) resource.