Effective Dates: 03/04/1997 - Present Previous | Next

TN 15 (05-08)

RS 02610.021 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Report of Alien Departure

A. Introduction

Some beneficiaries leave the U.S. without notifying SSA and then continue to receive his/her checks at the United States (U.S.) address or through direct deposit into a U.S. bank. This action hinders SSA’s ability to verify the continuing eligibility of the alien and may result in overpayment(s) being charged to the alien.

Aliens who plan to leave the U.S. for 1 or more years must apply to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for reentry permits in order to preserve the right of return. Many aliens apply for permits for an absence of less than 1 year.

The reentry permit is the DHS Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. After DHS issues the reentry permit, DHS transmits the information to SSA, See (SI 02310.017) - DHS Match, Voluntarily Leaving the United States (18 Diary).

B. PSC Action

When the I-131 alert is received, the PSC reviews the MBR to see if the beneficiary:

  • •

    Reported the departure from the U.S. and completed an SSA-21. If so, no action is necessary, or

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    Did not report the departure from the U.S. then the PSC will develop to obtain the correct address.

Payments continue to the beneficiary’s domestic address pending the development. Development should be done within 30 days before the date the alien plans to leave the United States.

A listing code of 372 (Alien Departure from the U.S.) is documented on each case for which the PSC requests assistance from the Field Office (FO) to develop for the correct address. See (GN 01040.100) - Listing Codes.

C. FO Action

The FO should attempt to contact the beneficiary at his/her U.S. address to document residency or proof of presence in the United States.

1. If the trip is for 3 months or less:

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    Continue TII payments and inform the PSC via Modernized Development Worksheet (MDW) of the action(s) taken.

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    For Title XVI, follow the instructions in (SI 02301.225) - Absence From The United States (NO3), Not a United States Resident (N23) and (SI 02310.017) - DHS Match, Voluntarily Leaving the United States (18 Diary).

2. If the trip is longer than 3 Months:

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    Obtain a SSA-21, Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States. See (GN 00205.170) - Claimant in U.S. Has Been (Or Will Soon Be Going) Abroad and establish proper mailing address, and (GN 02605.200) - Change of Address-Domestic to Foreign. See (GN 00205.180) - Significance of SSA-21.

  • •

    For Title XVI, follow the instructions in (SI 02301.225) - Absence From the United States (N03), Not a United States Resident (N23) and (SI 02310.017)—DHS Match, Voluntarily Leaving the United States (18 Diary).

Any TII domestic to foreign change of address is processed through Post Entitlement Online System (POS), See (MSOM T2PE 003.002) - POS Address/Direct Deposit/Phone (PEAD).

If the alien has already returned to the U.S., make a personal contact to ensure that the alien has in fact returned. If the trip exceeded 6 months, obtain a completed SSA-21.

If the FO cannot locate the alien, follow the procedure in (SM 03020.080) - Develop For Address (DADD) and (GN 01010.300) - Handling Unknown Address Claims.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302610021
RS 02610.021 - Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Report of Alien Departure - 03/04/1997
Batch run: 11/20/2023
Rev:03/04/1997