SSI's Pre-Effectuation Review Contact (PERC) to Confirm Eligibility

Following approval for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you'll have to undergo a "pre-effectuation review contact" (PERC) interview with the Social Security Administration. Social Security will conduct a PERC before you start to get payments in order to make sure that you're still financially eligible to receive SSI and to update any other information as needed.

You'll usually get a notice in the mail about your PERC about a month after you've been approved for SSI benefits. Once you're scheduled for a PERC, your benefit payments can't begin until it's completed (with some exceptions), so it's important to understand what goes on during a PERC and how you can be prepared for the interview.

Why Do I Need an SSI Interview After Approval?

It can be very frustrating to have to jump through an additional hurdle before you can start getting your disability payments, especially if you've already been found to meet the medical requirements for the program. But because SSI is a needs-based benefit subject to certain income and asset limits—and since it can take over a year before your application for benefits is ultimately approved—Social Security needs to see that your financial situation hasn't significantly changed in a way that may make you no longer eligible for SSI benefits.

That's why PERCs are needed to confirm that you're still legally allowed to receive SSI. In addition to rechecking your financial situation (income and assets), Social Security might also use a PERC to update and verify other non-medical documentation, like birth certificates or leases.

Are SSI Interviews Conducted Over the Phone or Do I Need to Go In-Person?

PERCs are most frequently conducted over the phone, but they can be conducted in-person in some instances. Social Security conducts two types of PERCs: limited and full. The type of interview you'll have depends on the type of SSI claim you file.

Limited PERC Interviews

During a limited PERC, Social Security will just go over a few issues. Limited PERCs are used only in the following types of claims, where getting benefit payments is especially urgent:

• terminal illness claims
• blindness claims
• presumptive disability claims involving the payment of temporary benefits while a claim is being decided (these are available only to clients with qualifying medical conditions)
• compassionate allowance claims for some very serious, well-documented medical conditions, and
• claims where approval is likely under Social Security's "medical-vocational grid rules" (generally only available for people age 50 and older).

Almost all SSI claims will require at least a limited PERC interview, but there are some exceptions. Social Security won't conduct a PERC in the following situations.

• If you're approved for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) only, you won't be required to have a PERC meeting. But if you're approved for both SSDI and SSI, you must still have a PERC interview.
• If someone applies for SSI but dies before the PERC is completed, Social Security won't conduct a PERC if there's no "underpayment" due—meaning Social Security doesn't owe the beneficiary any SSI back pay.

Full PERC Interviews

Most PERCs are "full PERCs". At these meetings, Social Security will document any changes to your case that could affect your eligibility. Any SSI claims that don't qualify for a limited PERC require a full PERC. You can contact Social Security to determine whether your claim will require a full or limited PERC meeting.

How Will I Know When My PERC Is Scheduled? What If I Miss It?

Social Security will contact you, in writing, about one month after you received your award letter to let you know the time and date of your SSI phone interview. It's important that you attend your PERC, so make sure that you're ready to answer the phone when Social Security calls. If you miss your PERC appointment, Social Security will delay paying your disability benefits and could close your case entirely.

Under Social Security rules, your claim can't be paid until your eligibility is verified again after you've received medical approval for SSI disability. So the agency could close your claim if you don't respond to the PERC form you receive in the mail (called Form SSA-L8009-US, Request for Information/Evidence), you fail to return calls to Social Security about your PERC, you don't attend your scheduled PERC interview, or you don't return a signed PERC document.

What Questions Will I Be Asked During the PERC Interview?

During the PERC meeting, a representative from Social Security will ask about things that could affect your benefits that might have changed, like your income or living arrangements. The outcome of the PERC can affect your SSI eligibility or benefit amount. But most of the time, the PERC is a simple process that's over quickly, and once it's complete, you can begin receiving benefits.

Explaining Your Living Arrangements at Your PERC

If you live on your own—that is, you live by yourself, and no one else pays for your rent, mortgage, utilities, or food—your living arrangements won't change your eligibility for SSI benefits. But if someone else pays for your food and/or shelter needs, it can affect how much SSI you can get. Social Security calls such assistance "in-kind support." Social Security will cut your monthly benefit amount by up to one-third to account for free room and board.

For example, let's say you have two roommates, and you claim that you pay your share of the rent, utilities, and food costs. If Social Security finds that you pay one-third or more of the total expenses, your roommate's contributions won't be considered in-kind support. But if you pay less than a third, Social Security would say you receive at least some in-kind support and reduce your SSI benefits proportionally. Because living arrangements can get complicated, take advantage of the PERC to clear up any potential confusion.

Documenting Your Finances at Your PERC

Because eligibility for SSI is linked to your financial situation, you'll need to bring proof of your income, assets, and resources to your PERC review. (If Social Security has appointed a representative payee for you, ask that person to attend the PERC meeting.) Here are examples of documents you might need:

• recent bank statements (checking and savings accounts)
• lease agreements
• mortgage payment information
• deeds to any property you own (like your home)
• car payment information
• titles to any automobiles (or boats)
• information about food stamps or other financial assistance you receive
• loan documents, and
• tax returns.

Bring any documents or witnesses who can verify your living arrangements with you to the PERC. For instance, if you live with your sister and pay rent to her, she should be with you at the PERC interview or write a letter stating that you pay her rent, including how much you pay. You need this evidence to prove to Social Security that you're paying rent. However, the agency won't require documentation if you live with only your spouse and minor children and no one outside your household pays for your food and shelter. (Note that a working spouse's income and assets could affect your SSI eligibility or benefit amount.)

How Long After the SSI PERC Interview Will I Get Paid?

It depends, but you should allow the agency several weeks to process your SSI once the PERC review is completed and Social Security has confirmed that you're still financially eligible for SSI payments. However, in the following scenarios, you can get paid benefits even if the PERC review isn't complete:

• Social Security believes you might not be physically or mentally capable of managing your benefits but hasn't made a final determination about your competence.
• The agency has concluded that you aren't physically or mentally capable of managing your benefits but hasn't appointed a representative payee yet.
• Sixty days have elapsed since your claim was approved by an administrative law judge (ALJ) after a disability hearing.

For more information, see our article on how long it takes to get Social Security backpay.

When In Doubt, Contact Social Security

It's crucial that you attend your PERC and that you comply with any requests for financial documentation that Social Security makes. If you have questions about the PERC, you should ask Social Security directly. Don't try to guess.

You can call the agency toll-free at 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you prefer, you can talk to a representative in person at your local Social Security office. Be sure to call Social Security first to see if you need an appointment.