TN 23 (12-23)

GN 00905.600 Initial Claims and Inquiries from Persons in Treasury Barred Countries

A. Background on Treasury barred countries

United States Treasury Foreign Assets Control Regulations and Cuban Assets Control Regulations (Treasury Circular 655) prohibits the delivery of all U.S. Government checks, including Social Security benefit checks, to (or on behalf of) beneficiaries in the countries on its barred list. Refer to RS 02650.000 for more information on Treasury Department and SSA restrictions..

B. Policy for protecting the filing dates for residents of Treasury barred countries

Make the same effort to protect filing dates for residents of countries to which payment is barred as is made for residents of any other country.

However, because payment to these individuals is precluded by Treasury Circular 655, do not make extensive efforts to determine entitlement to benefits.

C. Procedure for establishing a protective filing date

1. Inquiry establishes a protective filing date

  1. a. 

    The applicant has insured status

    Send the applicant the appropriate application forms, including an SSA-21 (Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States). See GN 00905.600D.1 in this section for the letter used to transmit the applications. Make any needed revisions to the letter to fit the circumstances of the case.

     

    Diary the case for 60 days.

     

    Send a 6-month notice per GN 00204.012, if the application is not completed and returned by the expiration of the diary period.

     

    When, and if, the application is completed and returned:

    • Acknowledge receipt with a letter similar to D.2., and

    • List the case under Code 200. (CDB prepares this listing.)

  2. b. 

    The applicant is not insured

    Send a letter of no eligibility as explained in GN 00204.012.

    If the inquirer insists on filing a formal application for benefits, send them the proper application form. When the completed application is returned, process it to a formal disallowance.

2. Inquiry does not establish a filing date

Handle as any other inquiry, but include information about the nonpayment of benefits to persons in that country.

D. Exhibits

1. Reply to inquiry eligibility to benefits

This is in response to your letter about your eligibility for Social Security benefits. Before your eligibility can be determined, you must file a formal application for benefits. The forms are enclosed. If you wish to file, you should complete these forms and return them to this office.

We must tell you, though, that as long as you live in (country) , it is unlikely that the Social Security Administration will be able to pay any benefits to you. The Social Security Act provides that persons who are not citizens of the United States are not eligible for payment for any month in which they live in (country) or certain other countries. Even if this provision does not apply to you, the regulations of the United States Treasury will not permit us to send payments to you. These regulations prohibit the mailing of United States Government checks to (country) or to an address in another country on behalf of someone in (country).

If you decide to file an application for benefits, no decision will be made on your claim until there is a change in the circumstances mentioned above.

2. Acknowledgment of application

We have received your application for benefits under the United States Social Security Act. As we explained in our letter dated (date), we are presently unable to make a decision on your claim.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200905600
GN 00905.600 - Initial Claims and Inquiries from Persons in Treasury Barred Countries - 12/07/2023
Batch run: 12/07/2023
Rev:12/07/2023