GN 02408.003 Stop-Payment Chart for E, F, and W-Stops Input on Title II and Title XVI Checks and EFT Payments

A. Introduction

Use E-stops for non-entitlement situations due to the death of the beneficiary or recipient when a representative payee is not involved. Use F-stops when check payments are issued to a representative payee after the death of a beneficiary and for all non-entitlement situations other than death. The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) investigates the status of a payment for E or F-stops. The W-stop is a Title II stop code used only for the death of the representative payee. The following chart provides the descriptions of the E, F and W stops.

B. Stop Payment Descriptions

The following chart gives a brief description of each stop-payment:

Stop Code	Description of E, F, and W- Stops
E-stops (Reclamation Request) Checks and Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT) Non-entitlement due to death/no rep payee	Applies to Title II and Title XVI checks and EFT payments issued after death. E-stop is usually an automated process when the date of death is posted to the record and the stop-payment action goes to Treasury. When a death input is processed, E-stops are automatically systems generated for checks and EFT payments issued after death, unless the E-stop must be input manually (see Manual E-stop Process GN 02408.012). E-stops for checks have a 12-month limit during which SSA can reclaim funds An E-stop enables SSA to direct Treasury to reclaim funds when a check is cashed after the death of the beneficiary or recipient and to return improper EFT funds deposited to the deceased beneficiary/recipient’s bank account.
F-stops Non-entitlement other than death	Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the F-stop to determine the status of a check without issuing a replacement check. The F-stop is used when SSA issues a Title II or Title XVI check that is not due. When SSA transmits an F-stop, Treasury will investigate the check in question. For more information on appropriate scenarios to use the F-stop, see GN 02408.020.
W-stop Checks and EFT Title II ONLY Non-entitlement - death of rep payee	W-stop is a Title II stop code used only for the death of the representative payee. A rep payee date of death input generates stop-payments (W-stop) on any Title II payments issued after a payee’s death. W-stops post to the Payment History Update System (PHUS) as E-stops. For EFTs, Treasury returns funds to SSA after reclamation from a financial institution (FI) for reissue to the new payee. For checks, Treasury cancels checks issued after a payee’s death and returns credit to SSA for reissue to the new payee or reclaims from the FI if checks were cashed.

Stop Code

Description of E, F, and W- Stops

E-stops (Reclamation Request)

Checks and Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT)

Non-entitlement due to death/no rep payee

Applies to Title II and Title XVI checks and EFT payments issued after death.

E-stop is usually an automated process when the date of death is posted to the record and the stop-payment action goes to Treasury.

When a death input is processed, E-stops are automatically systems generated for checks and EFT payments issued after death, unless the E-stop must be input manually (see Manual E-stop Process GN 02408.012).

E-stops for checks have a 12-month limit during which SSA can reclaim funds

An E-stop enables SSA to direct Treasury to reclaim funds when a check is cashed after the death of the beneficiary or recipient and to return improper EFT funds deposited to the deceased beneficiary/recipient’s bank account.

F-stops

Non-entitlement other than death

Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the F-stop to determine the status of a check without issuing a replacement check. The F-stop is used when SSA issues a Title II or Title XVI check that is not due. When SSA transmits an F-stop, Treasury will investigate the check in question. For more information on appropriate scenarios to use the F-stop, see GN 02408.020.

W-stop

Checks and EFT

Title II ONLY

Non-entitlement - death of rep payee

W-stop is a Title II stop code used only for the death of the representative payee.

A rep payee date of death input generates stop-payments (W-stop) on any Title II payments issued after a payee’s death.

W-stops post to the Payment History Update System (PHUS) as E-stops.

For EFTs, Treasury returns funds to SSA after reclamation from a financial institution (FI) for reissue to the new payee.

For checks, Treasury cancels checks issued after a payee’s death and returns credit to SSA for reissue to the new payee or reclaims from the FI if checks were cashed.

C. References

GN 02406.200 - Failure to Receive a Courtesy Disbursement Or Replacement Check -- Title II

GN 02406.202 - Nonreceipt of a Settlement Check -- Title II and Title XVI

GN 02406.205 - Nonreceipt of Underpayment Check/Type 2 and One-Time Payment/Type 4 Payment -- Field Office And Teleservice Center Instructions -- Title XVI

GN 02406.207 - Nonreceipt of Courtesy Disbursement or Replacement Check/ Type 9 Payment -- Field Office and Teleservice Center Instructions -- Title XVI

GN 02408.012 Manual E-Stop Process for Checks

GN 02408.020 The F-stop Process

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202408003

GN 02408.003 - Stop-Payment Chart for E, F, and W-Stops Input on Title II and Title XVI Checks and EFT Payments - 11/20/2024
Batch run: 11/20/2024
Rev:11/20/2024

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)

GN 02408.003 Stop-Payment Chart for E, F, and W-Stops Input on Title II and Title XVI Checks and EFT Payments

A. Introduction

B. Stop Payment Descriptions

C. References