GN 00904.206 Division of International Operations Processing of Foreign Claims

A. Jurisdiction and adjudication of foreign claims

1. Adjudicative authority for foreign claims

The following components have adjudicative authority of foreign claims:

•

Border field offices (FOs);
•

Domestic FOs; and
•

Division of International Operations (DIO).

While claims-taking Federal Benefits Units (FBUs) take and develop foreign claims, FBUs do not have adjudicative authority. FBUs send the completed claims package to DIO for adjudication. To identify claims-taking FBUs, refer to GN 00904.225C.

2. Jurisdiction of foreign claims

a. Border and domestic FOs

Border FOs have jurisdiction when the claimant resides or uses a mailing address in Canada. Refer to the Canadian Service Area Directory.

Domestic FOs have jurisdiction over foreign claims when there is a domestic claimant on the same Social Security record as the inquirer that resides or uses a mailing address in a foreign country, except for individuals residing in Canada.

b. FBUs

FBUs manage foreign claims from claimants that reside or receive mail in the country the FBU is located in, unless a domestic or border FO has jurisdiction as discussed above.

c. DIO

DIO has jurisdiction for all other foreign claims. For example, inquiries received from claimants that reside or have a mailing address in a non-claims taking Foreign Service Post (FSP).

B. Procedure for DIO on foreign claims

Prior to DIO routing material to other components with jurisdiction, DIO takes the action below in GN 00904.206B.1 and GN 00904.206B.2.

1. Border and domestic FOs jurisdiction

DIO:

a.

Obtains a benefit estimate;
b.
Determines if the claims inquiry is a lead, protective entitlement, or entitlement;
1. 1.
  
  For cases with no entitlement, advises the claimant in accordance with existing instructions;
2. 2.
  
  For leads and protective filings, sends a Form SSA-L437 Social Security Benefit Notice of Referral to the inquirer;
  
  NOTE:
  
  The Claims Development Branch (CDB) sends the protective filing six-month closeout letter.
c.
Forwards the inquiry to the border or domestic FO, noting whether the inquiry is a lead, protective filing, or entitlement;
1. 1.
  
  For leads, places a copy of the inquiry and Form SSA-L437 in the folder, or the L-DUP folder in the six-month destruct file; or
2. 2.
  
  For protective filings, places a copy of the inquiry and Form SSA-L437 in the L-DUP folder in the six-month destruct file; and
d.

Diaries in accordance with GN 00904.245.

2. FBU jurisdiction

DIO follows the steps above in GN 00904.206B.1.

3. DIO jurisdiction