WU occurs when, after exhausting all reasonable efforts, the FO is unable to locate the beneficiary or recipient. A WU issue may arise at any point during a CDR. For information on the FO's required contact attempts, see DI 13015.013.

When there is insufficient evidence to justify a continuance, we will stop benefit payments for the first month in which the FO, DDS, or PSC discovers that the beneficiary or recipient's whereabouts are unknown, but no earlier than the month in which the continuing disability issue arose.

REMINDER: The FO must follow the steps in DI 13015.013 before ceasing (Title II) or suspending (Title XVI) payments due to WU.

a. Title II cessation

For Title II, WU is a nonmedical cessation of benefits. Therefore, statutory benefit continuation (SBC) does not apply to Title II WU cessations. Refer to DI 12027.015 for more information on SBC requirements.

EXAMPLE: On 1/27/2021, the FO sends a letter requesting that the Title II beneficiary call by 2/11/2021. The Post Office returns the letter on 2/10/2021 indicating that the addressee is unknown at that address. After following all development steps in DI 13015.013, the FO cannot locate the beneficiary. The FO determines that the beneficiary's disability ceased beginning 2/2021. After two grace months, benefits terminate as of 05/2021.

b. Title XVI suspension

For Title XVI, WU is a technical suspension of benefits (payment status "S06"). This is different from Title II in which we cease benefits.

The FO is responsible for initiating the CDR and securing the requested medical information per DI 13005.025 and DI 13005.030 . If the FO is unable to locate the beneficiary or recipient, after following the steps in DI 13015.013, the FO makes a WU determination.

If the DDS is unable to locate the beneficiary, the DDS documents their attempt to locate the beneficiary following DI 28075.007: Whereabouts Unknown (WU) During a Medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) and returns the case to the FO as a "no determination" case. This documentation must be available to the FO in the current folder. If the FO is unsuccessful in locating the beneficiary or recipient, the FO will prepare a WU determination per DI 13015.013.

If the PSC cannot complete the CDR because they are unable to locate the beneficiary, the PSC transfers jurisdiction of the CDR to the FO. The PSC will update the Disability Control File (DCF) to transfer the CDR to the FO of jurisdiction along with an electronic or paper SSA-5526-U3 Request for Assistance-Disability form. The FO will then proceed with WU development per DI 13015.013.