The Congressional intent of the fugitive felon provision is to prevent Titles II/XVI
funds from aiding a person's flight from justice. It is not to permanently deny beneficiaries/recipients
their SSA benefits or payments.
If good cause is found using the ‘good cause' criteria found in SI 00530.015, and benefits have been suspended, SSA is required to reinstate benefits/payments.
SSA is also required to repay any previously withheld payment and/or recovered overpayment.
Good cause must be found if a court finds the individual not guilty, dismisses the charges, or issues
any similar exonerating order. Any of these could occur months after a person has
been suspended.
If a person is suspended retroactively for a period during which payments were made,
the person would be overpaid, and SSA would attempt to recover the overpayment. If
the person is acquitted through the court system, SSA would have to repay any recovered
overpayment. Therefore, to prevent unnecessary overpayment development, SSA will defer
the recovery of the overpayment in certain circumstances (i.e., until SSA learns of
the disposition of the charges or outcome of a trial.)