TN 93 (08-22)

GN 02602.070 Procedure for Resolving Death Alerts

A. Alerts that do not require additional development or verification

Not all alerts require additional development or verification. If you make entries into the Social Security Administration (SSA) systems out of sequence, an alert may result. Because the records for the individual are incomplete, you must take action to enter death information to all records. We define alerts in GN 02602.065.

DIPS not used

This alert shows on the Death Alerts Tracking System (DATS) because you entered a death transaction through the payment record(s) instead of through the Death Information Processing System (DIPS). No further development of the death report is required to resolve this alert. However, you must enter the death information into DIPS and wait for the death report to process overnight to resolve this alert. For information about processing death reports through DIPS, see GN 02602.051.

B. Alerts requiring verification

The following alert types, defined in subsection GN 02602.065B, require verification to resolve the alert and remove it from DATS:

  1. 1. 

    Third-party verification;

  2. 2. 

    Name does not match; and

  3. 3. 

    Numident Death Alerts (for Entry code (ETC): D = Death claim (filed before 3/72) cases, see RM 10220.415).

The steps to verify these alerts are listed in GN 02602.070C in this section.

C. Steps to verify alerts

Step

Action

1

Check all relevant SSA records and queries (e.g., the Numident, Master File Queries (MFQ), the Evidence Portal, MDW, Shared Process Menu (EVID), etc.) to see if we received pending death development.

If we received pending death development, go to step 7.

If we did not receive pending death development, go to step 2.

2

Check all relevant SSA records and queries (e.g., the Numident, Master File Queries (MFQ), the Evidence Portal, MDW, Shared Process Menu (EVID), etc.) to see if this is SSA’s first indication of death.

If this alert is SSA’s first indication of death, go to step 3.

If this alert is not SSA’s first indication of death, go to step 5.

3

Attempt to contact the alleged deceased, or family of the alleged deceased, by phone. The individual must be able to verify the alleged decedent is alive or deceased.

If you were able to make contact with an individual able to verify the alleged decedent is alive or deceased, go to step 7.

If you were not able to make contact with an individual able to verify the alleged decedent is alive or deceased, go to step 4.

4

Send a come-in letter, SSA-2708, record your development and set a diary date to follow-up on the alert in 45 days. When your diary elapses, go to step 7.

5

Determine if we reinstated payments due to an incorrect death, but the death information was not removed from the Numident.

  • If we reinstated benefits, but death was not removed from the Numident, do no further development and go to step 11.

  • If benefits were not reinstated and death is not on the Numident, go to step 6.

  • If benefits were not reinstated and death is on the Numident but not on the payment records, and the report of death on the Numident does not show Electronic Death Registration (EDR) Code: Y = the Numident death record is based on a verified EDR report, go to step 3.

  • If benefits were not reinstated and death is on the Numident but not on the payment records, and the Numident death record shows Electronic Death Registration (EDR) Code: Y = the Numident death record is based on a verified EDR report, utilize the date of death associated with the Electronic Death Registration (EDR) Code: Y = the Numident death record is based on a verified EDR report to terminate benefits on the payment records using POS.

6

If we did not reinstate benefits, there is no death on the Numident, and no development is pending, return to step 3.

You must determine if the individual is alive or deceased and ensure it is correct on the Numident.

7

Have you determined if the person is alive or deceased?

If yes, go to step 11.

If no, go to step 8.

8

Is the date of the come-in letter greater than 45 days?

If yes, go to step 10.

If no, go to step 9.

9

Set a diary date to follow-up on the come-in letter, and other pending development, from the date of the come-in letter plus 45 days. If we did not send a come-in letter, send a come-in letter and diary for 45 days, as explained in step 4.

10

Consider the person deceased using the alleged date of death on the alert if we did not receive a response to the come-in letter after 45 days. Go to step 11.

11

Take appropriate action(s) to clear the death alert. If necessary, add, correct, or remove the death information on the Numident in accordance with GN 02602.051. For erroneous deaths previously recorded on the Numident, see GN 02602.055.

D. References

  • GN 02602.050 Reports of Death

  • GN 02602.051 Processing Reports of Death Using DIPS

  • GN 02602.055 If an Individual Deceased on SSA Records is Alive

  • GN 02602.056 Procedure to Correct an Incorrect Death Record

  • GN 02602.065 Types of Death Alerts


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202602070
GN 02602.070 - Procedure for Resolving Death Alerts - 08/01/2022
Batch run: 08/01/2022
Rev:08/01/2022