OPTEL calls can be used when FO personnel have questions concerning an overpayment / recovery situation involving a case where:

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  Jurisdiction for collection activity has been transferred to the FO.

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  The beneficiary has requested an explanation of their overpayment notice.

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  Clarification of a processing center development request is required.

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  An explanation of worksheet entries is required.

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  Benefit offset is in progress, the claimant has made a full refund and efforts to stop withholding through ROAR have been unsuccessful.

If the issue is clearly too complicated to be explained over the telephone, consider use of the Modernized Development Worksheet (MDW). (Refer to MSOM MDW-001–001 for instructions on this procedure or here for MDW instructions for inter-component development requests.

The MDW can also be used for certain contacts falling outside the criteria described in GN 01070.235A, if all the following conditions are met.

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  The contact must involve an overpayment / recovery issue.

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  Circumstances warranting special handling (e.g. potential public relations problem, financial hardship, etc.).