When DI 23007.010A in this section applies, contact the claimant once by telephone or letter to request
a third party contact.
When the FO did not obtain an additional third party, or the FO annotated in the Remarks
section "Internet/mailed-in claim - no additional third party contact obtained," you
are not required to attempt to identify an additional third party. For the FO policy
on documenting third parties, see DI 11018.005F.1, DI 11005.022B, and DI 11005.022C.
When the claimant identifies a third party, make a reasonable effort to involve the
third party in accordance with DI 23007.010C in this section.
When the FO documented that the claimant refused to identify a third party, do not
attempt to identify a third party. For the FO policy on documenting the refusal, see
DI 11005.022B.
NOTE 1: You may ask a claimant that requires special handling to identify a third party at
the time you follow up on an initial request for evidence or action, or when you attempt
to confirm the claimant's attendance at a scheduled CE appointment (see DI 22510.019).
NOTE 2: When a claimant has not identified a third party on the SSA-3368 (Disability Report - Adult),SSA-3441 (Disability Report - Appeal), or SSA-454 (Continuing Disability Review Report), and the FO did not document that the claimant
refused to provide one, you are only required to identify one third party.
1. If you contact the claimant by telephone
Claimant contact by telephone means you either:
-
•
Speak to the claimant, or
-
NOTE: Document the date and content of your conversation or message on an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact), a Claims Communication in the Electronic Claims Analysis Tool
(eCAT), a Case Note in the Disability Case Processing System (DCPS), or the DDS worksheet.
IMPORTANT: When you do not speak to the claimant and you cannot leave a message, you must contact
the claimant once by letter.
a. You speak to the claimant
Ask for the name and contact information of a third party. When the claimant asks
for more time to provide this information, give them 10 additional calendar days from
the date of your telephone call. Explain that failure to provide the requested information
may result in you making a determination based on the evidence in file, which means
you may find that the claimant is not disabled.
b. You leave a message for the claimant
You may leave a message on the voicemail recording system of a telephone number in
the claim file that is attributable to the claimant. You may also leave a message
with an adult who answers a telephone number in the claim file that is attributable
to the claimant (e.g., the claimant’s spouse).
Include the following:
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•
Your contact information and date that you called. Do not disclose any unnecessary
personal information about the claimant,
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•
A request that the claimant provide the name and contact information of a third party,
-
•
A request that the claimant return your call within 10 calendar days from the date
of your message with the information, and
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•
An explanation that failure to provide the requested information may result in you
making a determination based on the evidence in file, which means you may find that
the claimant is not disabled.
2. If you contact the claimant by letter
Include the following:
-
•
Your contact information and date of your letter,
-
•
A request that the claimant call you within 10 calendar days from the date of your
letter with the name and contact information of a third party, and
-
•
An explanation that failure to provide the requested information may result in you
making a determination based on the evidence in file, which means you may find that
the claimant is not disabled.