By law, no benefits can accrue to a non-U.S. citizen for any month after June 1968 during which he or she resided in a country prohibited by Treasury regulations. The period of Treasury prohibition in Cambodia was May 1975 through November 2001. Non-U.S. citizens cannot accrue benefits for any month they resided in Cambodia during this period. This non-accrual restriction also applies to benefits that we would otherwise pay under the alien nonpayment provisions for the first 6 calendar months the beneficiary was outside the United States.

Citizens of Cambodia do not meet an exception to the alien nonpayment provisions based on Cambodian citizenship. However, we can pay:

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  benefits after November 2001 for the first 6 calendar months the beneficiary was outside the United States; and

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  for months after November 2001 if the beneficiary meets another exception to the alien nonpayment provisions not based on Cambodian citizenship. For information on Exceptions to Alien Nonpayment see RS 02610.010.

Beneficiaries entitled as survivors or dependents may have to meet a 5-year U.S. residence requirement as explained in 5 Year Residency Requirement for Alien Dependents/Survivors Outside the United States RS 02610.025.

Beneficiaries currently receiving benefits in Cambodia were approved for payment under the Special Payment Procedures for Certain SSA Restricted Countries per RS 02650.040. These beneficiaries were eligible to receive their payments while in Cambodia if they reported to the FSP monthly and showed proof of identity and citizenship. We requested the FSP to contact these beneficiaries and take the following actions:

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  verify their continued existence and eligibility for benefits;

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  notify them of the removal of SSA restrictions and special payment conditions in Cambodia;

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  verify their current mailing and residence address; and

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  have a face-to-face contact with any beneficiary who did not report to the FSP under the special payment procedure within the past 30 days, and verify identity and citizenship.

The FSP documents the beneficiary contacts, notifications, and current information on form SSA-5002 (Report of Contact). Once completed, the FSP faxes the SSA-5002 and any other documentation into the Non Disability Repository Application (NDRed). The FSP forwards the material via paperless to the Office of International Operations (OIO).

We require a face-to-face contact to determine payment eligibility for beneficiaries whose benefits were withheld or suspended for being in Cambodia. We requested the FSP to contact each of these beneficiaries, including those requiring a representative payee. For a new payee appointment, we require the completion of Form SSA-11 (Request to be Selected as Payee). SSA resolves other payee issues using current rep payee procedures.

These cases require the following actions.

1. 1. 

   Beneficiary notification and contact

   The FSP notifies the suspended beneficiaries of the removal of restrictions and the need to determine payment eligibility. The FSP also obtains current address and residence information. The FSP documents these actions on Form SSA-5002.

2. 2. 

   Eligibility documentation and required forms

   A suspended beneficiary requires a face-to-face interview to determine eligibility for payment. Before we can pay benefits, the beneficiary must establish:

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     his or her identity with a representative of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh,

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     that no termination or deduction events have occurred during the retroactive period,

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     his or her eligibility to receive current benefits.

   We need to document eligibility for the entire retroactive period we withheld benefits. The beneficiary or representative payee should complete and sign the following forms amended to show the entire retroactive period:

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     Form SSA-21 (Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States); and

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     Form SSA-7162 (Report to United States Social Security Administration) or Form SSA-7161 (Report to United States Social Security Administration by Person Receiving Benefits for a Child or Incapable Adult).

   The FSP faxes all documentation and completed forms into NDRed, and sends them via paperless to OIO.

The FSP documents all unsuccessful attempts to contact a beneficiary on the Form SSA-5002. The FSP scans the SSA-5002 and any additional documentation showing attempts to locate or contact the beneficiary into NDRed, and forwards the material to OIO.

The FSP documents a report of death on the Form SSA-5002, and develops for proof of death.