Effective Dates: 11/20/2024 - Present

Identification Number:
GN 02408 TN 88
Intended Audience:See Transmittal Sheet
Originating Office:DCBFM OFPO
Title:Stop Payments and Reclamations
Type:POMS Full Transmittals
Program:All Programs
Link To Reference:
 

PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEM

Part GN – General

Chapter 024 – Checks

Subchapter 08 – Stop Payments and Reclamations

Transmittal No. 88, 11/20/2024

Audience

PSC: BA, CCRE, CS, DS, IES, ILPDS, IPDS, PETE, RECONR, SCPS, TSA, TST;
OCO-OEIO: BIES, BTE, CCRE, CR, FCR, PETL, RECOVR;
OCO-ODO: BTE, CCE, CR, CST, CTE, CTE TE, DSE, PAS, PETE, PETL, RCOVTA, RECOVR;
FO/TSC: CS, CS TII, CS TXVI, CSR, CTE, FR, OA, OS, RR, TA, TSC-CSR;

Originating Component

OFPO

Effective Date

Upon Receipt

Background

This POMS section provides guidance on using the E, F, and W-stops.

 

Summary of Changes

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

Throughout this policy we replaced the abbreviation "DT" with "Treasury.

Subsection A

We added a subsection header titled "Introduction". We put the introductory paragraph under this subsection.

Subsection B

We added a subsection header titled "Stop Payment Descriptions." We put the stop code chart under this subsection. We removed some references in the chart and placed them in the reference section.

We condensed the F-stop information found within the stop code chart. We put a reference to GN 02408.020 for more detailed information regarding when to use the F-stop.

Subsection C

We added a subsection header titled "References." We placed links to references under this subsection.

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.

 

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


GN 02408 TN 88 - Stop Payments and Reclamations - 11/20/2024