Do the following before and during the completion of an application for benefits.
Step
|
Action
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1
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Find out if there are other eligible claimants during the pre-claim interview.
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2
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Review the penalty information with the claimant.
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3
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Establish a claim if answers about “current” and “prior” months pertain to a protective
filing date (PFD) or the date the application is completed.
If answers pertain to a PFD, go to step 4.
If not, go to step 5.
|
4
|
Alter the affected questions on the application, or add a statement in “Remarks,”
on an SSA-795, or on an RPOC screen stating that the protective filing date is the
basis for the answers.
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5
|
Complete paper applications in ink. We require paper applications from personal computers
be printed in blue or black ink on white paper.
EXCEPTION: Accept a mailed application completed in pencil, if legible.
|
6
|
Review the application to ensure that the claimant answered all pertinent questions,
and the answers are clear and legible. (For the procedure on preparing for adjudication,
see GN 01010.007D.)
NOTE: Use “Unknown,” if the claimant does not know an answer or is uncertain of an answer.
When mailing an application, tell the claimant to answer all items or mark unknown
answers as, “Unknown.”
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7
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Ask the claimant to review all answers and sign the application.
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