Repayment is the return to SSA of an amount equal to the amount of SSI paid by SSA to the sponsored alien after an executed I-864.

A sponsored alien is one whose sponsor is subject to the provisions of Section 213A requiring the execution of a legally enforceable I-864.

A sponsor is an individual who has executed an affidavit of support with respect to a sponsored alien, as defined in Section 213A(f).

To determine when to verify sponsorship of an alien SSI recipient under Section 213A, follow SI 00502.240G .

FO technicians should complete a Report of Contact - see MS 08122.010) for MSSICS cases or an SSA-5002 (5002) for non-MSSICS cases to record the basis for their determination in the file that the sponsor is required to repay SSA the amount of SSI benefits paid to the alien.

Upload the 5002 to the Certified Electronic Folder (CEF)/Non Disability Repository for Evidentiary Documents (NDRED) and complete the following actions:

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  Add a remark on the SSR, listing sponsor name, SSN, address, and phone number (if available).

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  Include the following statement: “Sponsor is subject to INA 213A, per SI 02220.065.”

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  Notify the sponsor of the determination following SI 02220.065E.

For more information on storing forms electronically, refer to GN 00301.322.

The amount the sponsor has to repay to SSA is equal to the amount of SSI the sponsored alien receives. Therefore, the repayment amount may accrue or change over time as the alien continues to receive SSI. Upon determination that a sponsored alien under the new affidavit of support is receiving SSI payments, a FO technician must complete the following actions:

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  Review the SSR to determine all months that the sponsored alien received and continues to receive SSI.

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  Calculate the repayment amount required by the sponsor by using the repayment period and benefits paid in the repayment period.

NOTE: For each month that the sponsored alien continues to receive SSI, the alien's sponsor is responsible for repaying the SSI benefits to SSA. SSA is not limited by administrative finality rules. SSA may seek repayment from the sponsor for SSI benefits paid to the sponsored alien within the last 10 years.

FO technicians must notify the PSC of jurisdiction to establish and add the repayment debt in the Recovery of Overpayments and Reporting (ROAR) under the sponsor's SSN by faxing the determination (Report of Contact or the 5002 in Paperless). If SSI payments are continuing and require repayment, FO technicians tickle the repayment by sponsor issue to notify the PSC of the debt amount on a monthly basis.

PSC technicians must add debt to the ROAR and input it as a non-LDO debt for the Title XVI trust fund. DO NOT post a P-TAC (Manually Computed Overpayment). To prevent excess decisions, DO NOT post remittances from a sponsor to the Supplemental Security Record (SSR). See SM 01311.634.

Include the following information in the SSA-8166:

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  A statement that the provisions of Section 213A on the enforcement of the affidavit of support apply;

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  Date the SSI support obligation commenced (the date the sponsored immigrant became a permanent resident);

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  Sponsored alien's name;

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  Sponsored alien's alien registration number;

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  Sponsored alien's address;

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  Sponsored alien's date of birth;

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  Type of benefit the sponsored alien received, i.e., SSI;

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  Dates the sponsored alien received payments;

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  Total amount of the means-tested public payment(s), i.e., SSI, received in an itemized statement;

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  Statement the sponsor has 45 days (plus 5 mailing days) to respond to the request to either pay the entire debt or arrange to begin payments via a payment schedule agreeable to SSA; and

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  Standard due process language.

Maintain an electronic copy of the letter by uploading saving to the Online Retrieval System (ORS) under the sponsored alien’s SSN. For more information on storing forms electronically, refer to GN 00301.322. NL 00802.035 for information on the SSA-L8166.

Annotate the “Remarks” field on the SSR (see MS 08125.010) and the Report of Contact (see MS 08122.010 and MS 09109.000), or the 5002 that Section 213A is applicable, i.e., “Sponsor is subject to INA 213A, per SI 02220.065.” Include the amount to be repaid.

Mail the notice to the sponsor’s last known address.

Track the notification process by completing the following:

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  Send the notice by certified or registered mail with a return receipt requested.

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  Set an issue on the Development Worksheet page or an MDW for non-MSSICS cases to track the notice.

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  Input a receipt date showing when the FO receives proof of delivery.

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  Fax a copy of the proof of delivery into the CEF/NDRed. For more information on storing forms electronically, refer to GN 00301.322.

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  If no proof is received within 50 days of the delivery date, follow the instructions in this section for repayment of SSI.

If the sponsor objects to the determination as detailed in this section, the FO technician should:

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  Obtain a Request for Reconsideration (Form SSA-561-U2).

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  Terminate internal collection with a transaction code 71 via the Terminate Collection (DFTE) screen when a request for reconsideration is filed within 60 days of the date of the notice of the initial determination that Section 213A is applicable, as described in this section, see MS 01107.003 and SM 00610.516.

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    When the SSA-561 is received in the FO, follow instructions in MS 01106.019 to input the protest and stop recovery efforts.

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    When the SSA-561 is received in the PC, follow instructions in MS 01106.003 to input the protest and stop recovery efforts. Since the debt originated from SSI payments, transfer the appeal to the FO of jurisdiction for a determination.

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    Add DMS remarks stating the sponsor filed an appeal.

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  Consider any additional evidence and statements, including checking the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) for possible updated information or whether the sponsorship obligation has ended.

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  Make the reconsideration determination (SI 04020.000) using the same criteria that was used to make the initial determination. Also, review SI 00502.240. A technician who did not make the initial determination must complete the reconsideration determination.

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  Follow MS 01106.011 to input the reconsideration determination.

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  Notify the sponsor of your determination using a Notice of Reconsideration, Form SSA-L8457-CL.

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  Resume recovery efforts only after making an unfavorable reconsideration determination that reaffirms the determination made by the previous technician that a sponsor must repay SSI benefits using transaction code 77 via the DFRE screen, see MS 01107.005 and SM 00610.516.

If the sponsor objects to the prior appeal determination:

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  Obtain the next level of appeal form depending on the prior determination level.

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  Follow instructions in:

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    SI 04030.000 for Administrative Law Judge Hearings process

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    SI 04040.000 for Appeals Council Review process

NOTE: Continue recovery efforts if the sponsor requests further appeals, i.e., Hearing, Appeals Council.

Because repayment by the sponsor is not an overpayment, do not apply overpayment waiver procedures to the amount the sponsor owes.

When the FO technician’s monthly tickle has alerted, the technician will verify the record to determine if a payment was received. Any remittances received should reflect on the ROAR under the sponsor’s record.

When the alien’s sponsor submits a payment:

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  Annotate the file.

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  Follow remittance processing procedures in GN 02403.001 and MS 01103.001 - MS 01103.010, .

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  Annotate the Report of Contact or the 5002 that a remittance has been received. Include in the annotation:

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    the amount received and

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    the amount that remains to be repaid.

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  Do not delete the original debt amount the sponsor received notification for repayment.

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  Do not post a P-TAC (Manually Computed Overpayment). To prevent excess decisions, remittances from a sponsor must not be posted to the SSR, see SM 01311.634.

Follow the instruction in SI 02220.025 but even though these are being handled in a manner similar to overpayments, they are not overpayments and should not be treated as such. The PSC controls updating the ROAR as needed and MATPSC scans and processes the actual remittance.

When the sponsor cannot repay the full amount in one payment, the FO technician should:

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  Allow for repayment over a period of up to 12 months.

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  Require the sponsor to make the payments on a regular monthly basis.

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  Give the sponsor a sufficient number of payment stubs and return envelopes.

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  Set up manual control of the installment payments, per SI 02220.025.

NOTE: If agreed upon installment payments become delinquent, the debt will need to be referred to OFPO, see section SI 02220.065G.4 and 5.

When the sponsor does not respond to a repayment letter within 45 days (plus 5 days for mailing) of the confirmed delivery date, or the last known address is not a good address, the FO technician should take the following recovery actions:

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  Determine whether the sponsor received the letter (was it returned?). If the sponsor did not receive the letter, attempt alternate means of service as suggested in this section.

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  Locate the sponsor by following SI 02220.051 or contact DHS for the sponsor's address per SI 00502.280D.2. If the sponsor did receive the notice, see instructions in SI 02220.065G.4.

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  If you are unable to locate the sponsor take the following actions,

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    Annotate the record to show efforts made to obtain the correct address;

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    Use a 5002 to list the latest status of the sponsor’s financial obligations of repayment;

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    Upload it into CEF/NDRED, and add a remark to the SSR;

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    Stop recovery efforts; and

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    Notify OFPO of your decision to stop recovery efforts.

A debt is delinquent on the 60th day after each repayment notice date if no action to repay has been taken.

When the sponsor is delinquent in repayment and no appeal is pending, the FO technician should:

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  Send a letter to the sponsor using a DPS notice shell, stating payment is past due;

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  Demand payment within 10 days; and

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  If no response is received, refer the case to OFPO, where OFPO refers the case to DOJ to pursue court action against the sponsor via the U.S. Department of the Treasury's (Treasury) Cross Servicing Program, if the sponsor:

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    Does not indicate a willingness to make repayment and the amount owed becomes delinquent, or

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    Fails to comply with the repayment terms established by SSA at any point.

The FO technician should send information to OFPO when the debt is delinquent, no appeal is pending, and:

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  There is no response to the requests for repayment; or

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  Sponsor refuses to repay or cooperate; or

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  There is a final civil judgment against the sponsor.

Notify OFPO via e-mail at ^DCBFM OFPO Delinquent Sponsored Alien.

Please include in the body of your e-mail the SSN of the Alien, the SSN of the Sponsor, debt established date, and the date of notice for repayment.

Referral for civil judgement to DOJ will be completed by OFPO via Treasury’s Cross Servicing Program for Sponsored Alien cases that meet the qualifications found in Section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

NOTE: Only for Sponsored Alien cases under Section 213A of the INA, does OFPO send the referral for civil judgment to DOJ via Treasury’s Cross Servicing Program.

For all other civil judgment referrals, please follow SI 02220.035 and GN 02215.150.

For further instructions on procedures for after a referral has been sent to DOJ, see SI 02220.035B.3.