When are the termination month and cessation month the same?

The termination month and cessation month are the same when the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) grace period is not used. In this context, the cessation month refers to the last month in which a beneficiary was eligible for benefits, while the termination month indicates the month when the benefits officially cease.

If the beneficiary does not utilize the grace period during EPE, it signifies that they have not met the income thresholds or continued to work in a manner that affects their eligibility for benefits. Consequently, the cessation and termination occur in the same month because the benefits stop when the beneficiary’s work activity reaches an income level that leads to loss of benefits, and no grace period is applied to extend the eligibility.

This scenario highlights the connection between active work efforts and the determination of benefits, underscoring the fact that failing to utilize the grace period results in an immediate cessation of benefits that aligns with the termination of eligibility. Understanding this relationship is crucial for beneficiaries navigating work incentives and tracking their benefits accurately.