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Social Security Administration Links with Special Emphasis on SSI and Special Needs Trusts

By dvanar

(I acknowledge with appreciation the Academy of Special Needs Planners website and the resources available to members which I used to compile the following list of links)

PRIMARY SOURCES:

• Social Security Administration?s Main Page: Social Security Online - The Official Website of the U.S. Social Security Administration

• Social Security Administration?s ?Our Program Rules? compilation of links to the Act, regulations, rulings, and other materials: Social Security Online - Regulations

• Social Security Regulations: Code of Federal Regulations

• ?SSI Law and Regulations Finder:? SSI Law and Regulations Finder

• Social Security Regulations specifically on SSI: 20 CFR Part 416

• Social Security POMS (Program Operations Manual System): SSA's Policy Information Site - POMS .

• Social Security Policy EMs: Social Security Online Policy Site: Policy EMs

• Social Security Rulings: Social Security and Acquiescence Rulings

• Social Security HALLEX - the rules for conduct of hearings at the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR, formerly known as Office of Hearings and Appeals ? OHA): HALLEX Title Page See particularly, ?Conduct of Hearings?: Conduct of Hearings

• Social Security Act: Social Security Act Volume I

• To receive official notifications of new proposed rules or official notices: Regulations.gov

SSA SECONDARY SOURCES:

• SSA?s electronic book, with hyperlinks: Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — Home Page

• SSA?s public, electronic public education pamphlets, called Links to SSI Spotlights

• SSA?s ?Spotlight on Resources?: Understanding SSI — SSI Spotlight on Resources

• SSA?s ?Understanding your rights and responsibilities? (what you have to report to SSA): Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI)– Reporting Responsibilities

• SSA - Requesting a ?Proof of Social Security/SSI Income Letter?: Benefits Verification

• SSA ? Office Locator ? where do I send the Notice of Special Needs Trust, or other documents: Local Office Search

• SSA?s ?Social Security Handbook? ? an electronic explanation of everything about SSA and their programs, however, the handbook does not have hyperlinks to primary sources (statutes, regulations, POMS, etc.) and, most importantly, as with any summary of a complex law, doesn?t cover all the exceptions to the rules, and therefore is not as useful as other materials cited above: Social Security Handbook

IMPORTANT WEBSITES OF ORGANIZATIONS:

• National Organization of Social Security Claimant?s Representatives - NOSSCR: NOSSCR :: National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives

• National Senior Citizens Law Center: NSCLC Website

• Martin on Social Security: Martin on Social Security Treatise

• Social Security Advisory Service: Social Security Advisory Service - SSAS

SSA RESOURCES ON SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS AND TRUST ADMINISTRATION ISSUES:

[NOTE: There are no federal regulations issued to date by the Social Security Administration on Special Needs Trusts (SNTs). All the ?law? on SNTs is found in the statutes and in the POMS cited below]

• Third Party Trusts, and trusts prior to 1/1/00 - SSA - POMS: SI 01120.200 - Trusts Established Prior to 1/1/00, Trusts Established by Third Parties and Trusts Not Subject to Section 1613(e) of the Social Security Act - 02/14/2008

• Special Needs Trusts under 42 USC 1393p(d)(4)(A) ? general policy: SSA - POMS: SI 01120.203 - Exceptions to Counting Trusts Established on or after 1/1/00 - 08/15/2002

• SNT Exceptions to Counting Trusts as a Resource: SSA - POMS: SI 01120.203 - Exceptions to Counting Trusts Established on or after 1/1/00 - 08/15/2002

• What is a Resource Transfer: SSA - POMS: SI 01150.001 - What is a Resource Transfer - 11/08/2006

• How to do a Proper Spend-Down, e.g., SSI Personal Service Contracts, Prepayment of Food and Shelter, etc.: SSA - POMS: SI 01150.005 - Determining Fair Market Value - 08/24/2000

• SNT Administration ? Spending money from a trust:

• See the regulations, at 20 CFR 416.1104 for income, and 20 CFR 416.1201 for resources.

• SSA?s ?Spotlight on Trusts?: Understanding SSI — SSI Spotlight on Trusts

• POMS Magic Ten ? what are the only ten items that trigger In-kind Support and Maintenance deduction: SSA - POMS: SI 00835.465 - ISM and Households - Household Costs - 02/18/97

Full post as published by Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli Blog on September 15, 2008 (boomark / email).