The Title II system orbits the reclamation request to see if the FI returns the payment(s). If the FI has not returned the payment(s) within 20 days, SSA sends an automated reclamation request (E-stop) to Treasury. The automated reclamation request shows the date of death and the outstanding payment(s) after death. Any incorrect payment(s) that the FI already returned are not included. The Payment History Update System (PHUS) shows the E-stop information sent to Treasury.

IMPORTANT: The Title II system is limited to processing 50 reclamations through the automated system. If there were more than 50 payments issued after the death on a Title II record, an exception will be generated to the Processing Center (PC) technician for manual action. Reclamation requests for all of the payments must be input manually. For example, if there are 75 payments that need to be reclaimed, it will take the technician a minimum of two days to process the actions. Day one, payments 1 through 50 may be processed, and on day two, payments 51 through 75 may be processed. See Manual EFT Reclamation Requests in GN 02408.620C.1. and Non-Entitlement Due to Death Report in GN 02408.660.

If the FI has not returned the payment(s) within 30 days after the DNE is sent to the FI, SSA sends an automated reclamation request (E-stop) to Treasury based on the death information and the payment and return information on the Supplemental Security Record (SSR). The automated reclamation request shows the date of death and the outstanding payments after death. Any incorrect payments that were returned before the death was posted to the SSR are not included. However, a reclamation request does go out even if the payments were returned within the 30 days after the DNE was sent to the FI. The Treasury Status Query (UPTQ) screen shows the E-stop information sent to Treasury (see MS 00303.020).

NOTE: For Title XVI, there is no limit on the number of reclamations that can be sent at one time.

A payment that went to the representative payee after the beneficiary’s death is a legally defined overpayment. We process the overpayment, giving due process. See GN 02201.001D, GN 02408.007, SI 02220.053, and GN 02201.000 regarding Title II and Title XVI overpayment policy.

REMINDER: Never input a manual reclamation request on a payment that went to a representative payee after a beneficiary’s death.

SSA does not send an automated reclamation (E-stop) when a spouse or parent is paid on the same Title II record and has direct deposit to the same account. In addition, SSA does not send a DNE to the FI when a beneficiary and spouse share the same bank account, see GN 02408.605.

NOTE: Because of systems limitations, an automated reclamation will go out if the spouse or parent is only technically entitled (in LAF-AD or LAF-SD) on the same Title II record of the deceased beneficiary. However, do not initiate a manual reclamation when the spouse or parent is only technically entitled on the same record as the deceased beneficiary.

The PC sends an overpayment notice with due process to collect the incorrect payment(s) from the spouse or parent who was a joint-account holder and entitled on the same Title II record for the month before the month of death. The PC inputs the overpayment information into the Recovery of Overpayments, Accounting and Reporting (ROAR) system and the MBR Beneficiary Overpayment/Underpayment (OUPAY) Data Line. If the spouse or parent does not return the funds, the PC takes the money out of benefit payments to the spouse or parent.

When the regular payment date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday, the payment date becomes the last day before the regular payment date that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday. This payment date is defined as an early delivery payment date.

When a benefit delivered early is incorrect because entitlement terminated due to death, the incorrect benefit is not recovered if the death occurred after the payment was made (i.e., payment was issued and accepted, whether or not spent) but in the same month as the early payment.

Assume that the disqualifying event occurred after payment was made. This provision is applicable regardless of the method of payment (e.g., direct payment, representative payment, payment to a financial institution). If representative payment has been made, the representative payee must have expended the incorrect benefit on the beneficiary.

Assume that the death occurred after payment was made. There is no early payment if the check is not received or is returned. Payment of any increased benefits, underpayments, and/or lump-sum death payment is made without regard to the existence of such an incorrect, early payment on the record.

EXAMPLE: The beneficiary received their benefit check for December on Thursday morning, December 31, and cashed their check that afternoon. On returning to their apartment shortly after cashing their check, they died. Although a benefit is not due for the month of death, the beneficiary had already cashed the check for the December benefit. The December benefit is incorrect, but is not subject to recovery. (See GN 02201.007E)

No automated reclamation can be done for an IDD payment (the routing number begins with 5, 6, or 7) because Treasury has no authority over a foreign bank. The process for IDD reclamations begins at GN 02408.900.

The system does not send an automated reclamation for a deceased recipient on a Title XVI couple’s record when either or both members receive payment via direct deposit. Treat this scenario as an overpayment to the surviving spouse. Do not initiate a manual reclamation. See GN 02408.650.

The system does not send an automated reclamation for a PMA payment issued after the death of the beneficiary. If this is an incorrect payment (not due to the beneficiary), input a manual reclamation per GN 02408.620.

When we send more than 50 recurring Title II EFT payments to the beneficiary after death, the system sends an alert to the PSC. The PSC must then do manual reclamation inputs for all the payments. The Title II system can process reclamation requests for up to 50 payments per day per beneficiary. There is no daily limit for Title XVI reclamations.