TN 15 (03-24)

RS 02655.005 Preparation and Mailing Schedule — Foreign Enforcement Program (FEP)

A. Preparation for the Foreign Enforcement Questionnaires (FEQs)

The preparation process for the FEQs follows a specific protocol. We mail about 260,000 FEQs each year. There are two types of FEQ: the SSA-7161 is for representative payees who are handling benefits on behalf of a beneficiary, and the SSA-7162 is for beneficiaries who do not have a representative payee. The Regular Transcript Attainment and Selection Pass (RETAP) software captures identifying information about the beneficiary from the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR). The information preprinted on the forms and imbedded in the scan lines contain:

  • Beneficiary’s name

  • Representative Payee’s name (if SSA-7161)

  • Social Security Number and PIC

  • Address (including Consular and Geographic code)

  • BIC (Beneficiary Identification Code)

  • Direct deposit indicator

  • Custody code and type of payee

  • Disability code

  • TOE (type of event) code

  • Age 66 designator

  • Number of beneficiaries on the record

  • SSNX (5 digit number code that denotes the Payment Center jurisdiction, type of file, and type of claim).

The selection criterion includes BICs in LAF C, D, E, S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5.

B. Mailing schedule for FEQs

The FEQs are mailed to the beneficiary or representative payee in May or June of each year. Because of special circumstances (i.e., mailing problems), the FEQ forms may be sent to the appropriate Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for their assistance in delivering the forms.

The FEQs are mailed annually or biennially.

1. SSA-7161 and SSA-7162 annual schedule

  • Beneficiaries with a representative payee (SSA-7161);

    NOTE: SSA-7161s are always sent annually.

  • Beneficiaries aged 90 and over;

  • All BICs in Yemen (consular code 829 and 849); or

  • All BICs (except B, D,F J, and W) in countries not listed on the biennial country chart below.

2. SSA-7162 biennial schedule

  • Beneficiaries receiving their own benefits and residing in the countries in the chart below including APO and FPO addresses;

  • BICs B, D, F, J, and W, without a representative payee (exception: Yemen); or

  • The terminal digit selection for that particular year. SSNs ending in 00-49 are sent in even numbered years and SSNs ending in 50-99 are sent in odd numbered years.

3. FEQ Biennial Country Chart

Countries

 

Argentina

Hungary

Australia

Ireland

Austria

Israel

Azores

Barbados

Italy

Belgium

Japan

Brazil

Malta

Canada

Netherlands

Chile

New Zealand

Colombia

Nicaragua

Costa Rica

Norway

Croatia

Panama

Cyprus

Poland

Czech Republic

Portugal

Denmark

Serbia

Ecuador

Slovakia

El Salvador

Slovenia

Finland

Spain

France

Sweden

Germany

Switzerland

Greece

United Kingdom

Guatemala

Venezuela

Honduras

Yugoslavia (Former)

Hong Kong

APO/FPO

4. Exception for countries with USPS mail suspensions

We do not mail FEQs to beneficiaries and representative payees living in a country on the USPS International Mail Service Suspensions List. This list gets updated regularly. Thus, a country may be in "suspended" status for mailing purposes, even if mentioned in another category.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302655005
RS 02655.005 - Preparation and Mailing Schedule — Foreign Enforcement Program (FEP) - 03/26/2024
Batch run: 03/26/2024
Rev:03/26/2024