Foreign disability claims are under the jurisdiction of the OEIO. We obtain these
developments in these cases through the Foreign Service Posts (FSP's). OEIO has responsibility
for the disability determination for Title II claims filed by or on behalf of individuals
living outside the 50 States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Where the
individual resides in the United States (U.S.), the DDS serving the individual's latest
address has responsibility for the determination in initial and continuing cases.
Therefore, where the individual resides in the U.S., CDR development is initiated
through the FO that is the servicing office for the U.S. resident.
When a CDR is necessary for a U.S. resident, OEIO will request the appropriate FO
to obtain the Form SSA-454-BK (Continuing Disability Review Report); conduct a face-to-face
interview; have the individual complete the required Form SSA-827 (Authorization to
Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration) and forward the folder
to the DDS.
When the DDS completes its action, the folder returns to OEIO.
Individuals residing in foreign countries will not usually receive a face-to-face
interview. However, when a foreign claimant interviews in a U.S. FO, we conduct a
face-to-face interview. A foreign individual may visit a U.S. office, or, frequently
Canadian or Mexican residents will come into a border FO. In these situations, the
FO will offer all necessary assistance and conduct the face-to-face interview.