SSA can pay benefits to, or on behalf of, beneficiaries in:
Except as provided in RS 02650.040, SSA cannot pay benefits to, or on behalf of, beneficiaries in any of the other former
republics of the Soviet Union listed in RS 02650.020A.2. at this time. SSA will make a decision on the payment of benefits to individuals
in each former republic when the appropriate officials of that republic give SSA the
information shown in RS 02650.020A.1.
NOTE: A decision to pay benefits to individuals in a specific republic does not require
the information in both RS
02650.020A.1.a. and RS 02650.020A.1.b. If the authorities in a republic give SSA written assurance of free access to beneficiaries
and records in a republic, SSA can, absent any problems, pay benefits to U.S. citizens
and citizens of certain other countries who are in that republic.
Exceptions to the nonpayment policy may be made if SSA has unrestricted access to
the beneficiary and to evidence bearing on the beneficiary's continuing eligibility.
The Office of International Programs (OIP) must approve all exceptions.
SSA recognizes a power of attorney or direct deposit arrangement only when it is clear
the beneficiary is in the former Soviet republic as a tourist for 6 months or less.