General Assistance (GA)

Housing Support Program (HSP)

The client or legal guardian signed the SSI Interim Assistance Authorization (DHS-1795) (IAA); and

SSA was notified of a valid SSI IAA on file via an interface; and

The client received interim assistance (GA or HSP) during the same period covered by their retroactive SSI payment.

Emergency advance payments (Section 1631(a)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act)

Presumptive disability or blindness payments (Section 1631(a)(4)(B))

Immediate payments issued by SSA

Interim payments under Section 1631(a)(8)

Provisional payments under Section 1631(p)(7)

Only months in which GA has been reimbursed through the DHS/SSI IAR process (or reimbursed by the client directly) are eligible for MSA.

Review the DHS IAA Team MAXIS case note to determine which GA months have been reimbursed by IAR.

Issue retroactive MSA payments based on the client’s MSA basic needs grant—do not include special needs items.

If GA reimbursement remains due for a specific month (e.g., due to delayed GA case closure after SSI starts), budget the full SSI benefit (no disregard), plus the GA issued that month against the appropriate MSA standard. The resulting difference may either be the amount of GA still owed or the amount of MSA due.

HSP payment months are not eligible for retroactive MSA.

Confirm that a valid SSI IAA is entered on the PBEN panel.

Report interim assistance to SSA:

• Report the total amount of GA and HSP issued during the interim assistance period.
• Subtract any GA or HSP overpayments.

Send the client a written notice within 10 working days that includes:

• The amount of reimbursement SSA issued to DHS.
• Appeal rights if the client disagrees with the decision.

Maintain records:

• Maintain records of all transactions relating to interim assistance reimbursement.
• Retain client notices for three years after the end of the federal fiscal year.

Communication with the worker:

• Enter a case note in MAXIS documenting SSI IAR received.
• Send a SIR email with a copy of the client IAR notice.

Handle appeals related to interim assistance reimbursement.

Respond to DHS requests promptly:

• Provide additional information needed to process IAR.
• IAR requests have a deadline.

Monitor SIR emails:

• Check SIR email regularly.
• For agencies using case banking, ensure your team’s SIR email is monitored and acted on promptly.
• If SIR emails are not being received, contact your agency’s Security Liaison to update the workers assigned to the team.

SSA Inquiries regarding Interim Assistance:

• Refer all inquiries from SSA to the DHS Interim Assistance Team.
• If your agency receives an SSI Notice of Interim Assistance Reimbursement (SSA-L8125), email or fax it to the DHS Interim Assistance Team.

Review the SSI IAR case note for:

• Start month and amount of recurring SSI/RSDI.
• SSI IAR amount reimbursed to DHS.
• Months covered by the reimbursement.
• Retroactive SSI Summary, showing the SSI monthly amounts used to determine the retroactive payment.

Update the case timely upon receiving the SIR email notifying of SSI/RSDI approval.

• When a client is approved for SSI or RSDI, see 0008 (Changes in Circumstances), 08.06 (Implementing Changes – General Provisions)
• Close GA and issue a 10-day notice of adverse action to close the case. See 0026.15 (Notice of Denial, Termination, or Suspension).
• Approve the updated HSP budget for next available month, or close HSP if ineligible. See 0026.15 (Notice of Denial, Termination, or Suspension).
• Review eligibility for all other active public assistance programs and take appropriate actions.
• Process ongoing MSA, if eligible.
• Process retroactive MSA if the client is active on a cash program. The client is only eligible for retro MSA for the months IAR is received. See 05.09.06 (When Not to Require Completion of an Application), TE02.10.55 (GA Gains SSI Part 1), TE02.10.56 (GA Gains SSI Part 2), and TE02.08.199 (SSI Historical Payments).

Respond to client questions by providing the IAR information in the MAXIS case note. If the client disagrees with the decision,

Inform the client of their right to appeal. See 0027 (Appeals).

Report New Overpayments:

• If a GA or HSP overpayment is discovered after the SSI IAR is processed notify the Interim Assistance team. DHS will determine if the overpayment results in a refund to SSA.

a copy of the client notice; or

the client’s full name, MAXIS case number, and clearly label it as a IAR payment.

DHS Financial Operations will enter a Maxis case note when a payment is processed.

Counties or Tribal Nations are responsible for tracking the outstanding balance for interim assistance.

It is not subject to the 6-year statute of limitations.

It must be renewed every 10 years to remain valid.

The court-ordered amount may differ from the original requested amount because of interest and fees added from the date the judgement was docketed.