The beneficiary or representative payee is responsible for reporting events that may affect payments; therefore, attempt to make all telephone or mail contacts with the person receiving the checks.

If someone other than the beneficiary or the representative payee reported work, determine whether they are an acceptable source of information by following the guidelines in GN 03001.012.

Provide a manual due process prior to suspending benefits (including auxiliary payments, if any) unless the suspension is the result of a voluntary request. Advise the beneficiary of the reasons for suspension, and the right to submit additional evidence. For instructions on Due Process, see DI 13010.185.

NOTE: eWork prepares the due process notice for Work CDR determinations and automatically posts the DUE PROCESS issue for future action on the eWork development worksheet. eWork does not prepare a due process notice for interim suspensions (S0 inputs).

The eWork system automates the POS DIB CESS action. Use the Disability Cessation (PEC1) screen in the post entitlement (PE) online system (POS) to suspend or terminate benefits after you complete a CDR and have found SGA by using eWork. The DIB CESS effectuates the S7 suspension, and generates a suspension notice. For manual input procedures on eWork exclusion cases, see MSOM T2PE 003.024.

Input an S0 suspension using the CDIB work suspension input in POS and add a special message to the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) stating why you are inputting the suspense. The CDIB suspense input results in a S0 suspense code on the MBR which is effective with the current operating month (COM). Use the CDIB suspension action for POS exceptions as an interim step to prevent further months of improper payments. For more information on SO suspension, see MSOM COMMON 005.008 and SM 03020.050.

FO technicians should use discretion when utilizing the CDIB input and carefully follow the CDIB input procedure.

Use the CDIB input ONLY when ALL three conditions exist:

• •

  the final action is an ongoing suspension or termination;

• •

  a final determination notice has NOT been sent.

  NOTE: See the “Adjudicative Forms” screen on eWork. If this screen only shows a “Due Process” notice, then we did not issue a final determination notice If this screen shows both a Due Process notice and a Decision Notice, then a final determination notice has been produced by eWork, and the case is not a candidate for SO suspension by FO direct input to POS.

  and

• •

  the MBR verifies the claimant is in current pay.

After completing the suspension input, check to make sure the MBR updates and correctly shows LAF S0 effective with the COM in which the S0 suspension processes through POS.

NOTE: The FO may also have to reinstate benefits from a suspense status code of S0, to a current pay (ledger account file (LAF) C) status code on the MBR (i.e., the beneficiary works SGA and non-SGA months in the extended period of eligibility (EPE). When a beneficiary has some months of SGA, and some months of non-SGA during the EPE, the reinstatement action may “except,” and the Benefit Authorizer (BA) from the PC takes the necessary action to reinstate benefits. For detailed information on reinstating benefits from an SO input, see SM 03020.050 and MSOM COMMON 005.008.

Obtain a signed statement from the beneficiary or representative payee, or document the request to suspend benefits to avoid or reduce a possible overpayment. Use one of the following methods to document the record:

• •

  SSA-820 or SSA-821 (Work Activity Report)

• •

  SSA-5002 (Report of Contact (RPOC), or

• •

  the eWork Development Worksheet.

Inform the beneficiary that we are temporarily suspending their benefits while we are evaluating work activity.

Take the following actions to input voluntary suspension:

• •

  Input an S0 suspension through the CDIB work suspension input in POS Suspension actions input through CDIB are effective with the current operating month. For more information on SO suspension, see MSOM COMMON 005.008 and SM 03020.050.

• •

  Document the eWork development worksheet and the remarks screen of the DCF with the reasons for and the date of the suspension;

• •

  Continue all needed development and make a work CDR determination following normal procedures;

• •

  Provide due process if benefits are not payable for any additional months prior to the voluntary suspension, and effectuate the determination with a DIB CESS input, or follow fax procedures if the case is a POS exclusion;

  NOTE: POS accepts the input of an EPE or IRP action, but TATTER rejects the action when the beneficiary is in S0 suspense. An exception is generated with the message:

  1. a. 

     “PRIOR LAF PROHIBITS EPE PROCESSING” for EPE actions, or

  2. b. 

     “PRIOR LAF PROHIBITS PROCESSING” for IRP actions.

The PC must then resolve the exception alert. Monitor the exception by establishing a work issue on the eWork development worksheet. Check the progress of the exception using PCACS or PPL ROQS.

Provide due process prior to suspending benefits (including auxiliary payments, if any). Provide advance notice of the proposed suspension, including the reason for the suspension, and the right to submit additional evidence.

Prepare a manual notice following the guidelines in DI 13010.185, Due Process in Work Issue Cases.

When due process time is up (15 days from time of mailing), input an S0 suspension action through the CDIB screen as outlined in DI 13010.160C.2. (in this section). After you complete the work suspension action, continue with work CDR development and make a work issue determination. Afford due process again if benefits are not payable for any additional months prior to the suspension action. For more information on due process, see DI 13010.185.