PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEMPart RS – Retirement and Survivors InsuranceChapter 026 – Foreign DeductionsSubchapter 55 – Foreign Enforcement ProgramTransmittal No. 14, 03/20/2024
Audience
Originating Component
OISP
Effective Date
Upon Receipt
Background
This transmittal removes a policy exception that was erroneously added to POMS on October 17, 2023. That policy exception incorrectly stated that the agency does not mail the SSA-7161 to representative payees who are exempt from annual accounting requirements (which is not true).
Although the agency is not currently mailing the SSA-7161 to those exempt representative payees until we can make needed updates to the form, that is only a temporary measure (for which an Emergency Message is being issued). It is not permanent policy. Therefore, we are removing it from POMS.
Summary of Changes
RS 02655.005 Preparation and Mailing Schedule — Foreign Enforcement Program (FEP)
Subsection B.1: We removed the 'EXCEPTION' about not sending SSA-7161s to representative payees who are exempt from annual accounting requirements.
The preparation process for the Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire (FEQs) follows a specific protocol. An average of about 260,000 FEQs are mailed each year. 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
SSN X 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.
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 FEQ mailings follow either of two schedules; annual or biennial:
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.
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.
Countries
Argentina
Hungary
Australia
Ireland
Austria
Israel
Barbados
Italy
Belgium
Japan
Brazil
Malta
Canada
Netherlands
Chile
New Zealand
Columbia
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
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.