TN 120 (06-24)

GN 02406.220 Failure to Receive Form FMS-1133 Claims Package, Forgery or Handwriting Analysis Determination – Follow-up

A. Failure to receive Form FMS-1133 (Claims Against the United States for the Proceeds of a Government Check)

The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) generates Form FMS-1133 when the Social Security Administration (SSA) inputs a nonreceipt or stop payment request for Title II or Title XVI checks. The form contains questions the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee must complete in order to assist Treasury in determining if the check in question is forged.

If the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee does not receive the form from Treasury, access the Payment History Update System (PHUS) for Title II or the Treasury Status Query for Title XVI to ensure the appropriate stop code is input. If the appropriate stop code is input the field office (FO) or program service center (PSC) may do a one-time print of the FMS-1133 from the Treasury Check Information System (TCIS) and send it to the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee. Since the TSC Customer Service Representative cannot print from TCIS, they will send an MDW to the FO instructing them to print the form from TCIS.

If the form cannot be printed, the FO and TSC should contact the Regional Office through normal communication (vHelp); PSC personnel can contact their Operations Analysis Staff (OAS); or contact Treasury at 855-868-0151directly.

NOTE: The form is available for print until Treasury receives the completed FMS-1133.

NOTE: An L-stop (certified photocopy request) will only produce the FMS-3858 and a copy of the check. Additionally, Treasury will not process a photocopy of an FMS-1133 for a non-receipt claim. For more information about an L-stop and the FMS-1133, see GN 02406.145 and GN 02406.160

B. Handling Form FMS-1133 if received in the FO, TSC or Processing Center (PC)

The FO, TSC or PC will immediately scan all pages of the form into the Evidence Portal, and forward the completed FMS-1133 claims package to Treasury for review.

  • Treasury makes a forgery determination when the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee files non-receipt timely and the check is 12 months or less.

  • Treasury makes a handwriting analysis determination when the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee’s non-receipt claim is not timely filed and the payment is over 12-months old (limited payability involved).

If a beneficiary, recipient or representative payee inquires about the status of a forgery or handwriting analysis determination, review TCIS or contact Treasury at 855-868-0151.

C. Follow-up on a Treasury determination

Treasury reviews the FMS-1133 package and provides a specific determination based on the age of the check.

  • A forgery determination occurs when the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee files a timely non-receipt and the age of the check is 12 months or less. If Treasury determines that a forgery is involved, their analysis staff will reclaim the funds from the financial institution and issue a payment to the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee. Treasury will also update TCIS with the repayment information. For more information on Forgery Determination, see GN 02406.310.

  • A handwriting analysis determination occurs when the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee’s non-receipt claim is not timely filed and the payment is over 12-months old Treasury cannot reclaim the money from the FI because of the age of the check. Treasury will inform the FO or PC of their determination and the technicians will take the appropriate action. For more information on Handwriting Analysis Determination, see GN 02401.901.

If the beneficiary, recipient or representative payee inquires about the status of a forgery or handwriting analysis investigation, the FO or PC will query TCIS or contact Treasury’s customer service staff at 855-868-0151 to obtain a status.

D. Follow-up on a FMS-1133 claims package

All technicians will query TCIS to check the status of the FMS-1133 claims package.

  • If sent, it will take five business days to receive the claims package.

  • If five business days have elapsed and no claims package received, contact Treasury’s customer service staff at 855-868-0151 and ask them to send another claims package.

1. TSC processing

  1. a. 

    Title XVI Cases: If there is a claims package available on TCIS, the TSC technician will send an MDW to the FO to follow the steps in 2.

  2. b. 

    For Title II Cases: If there is a claims package available on TCIS, send an MDW to the PC to follow the steps in 3.

2. FO processing

  1. a. 

    If a claims package is available in TCIS or if the FO receives an MDW from the TSC, the technician should print the package (one time print only) and distribute it accordingly.

  2. b. 

    If the technician is unable to print the package and they are unable to obtain a package from Treasury, the FO should contact the RO analyst via vHelp. The RO analyst can print the package multiple times and can send the package to the FO.

3. PC Processing

  1. a. 

    If a claims package is available in TCIS or if the PC receives an MDW from the TSC or FO, the technician should print the package (one time print only) and distribute it accordingly.

  2. b. 

    If the technician cannot print the package, contact the Processing Center Operations Analysis Section (PC OAS) Staff for assistance.

E. Follow up on Claims Package by RO Analysts and PC OAS Staff

  1. a. 

    Query TCIS for status of the claims package or forgery claim.

  2. b. 

    If query does not provide necessary information, contact Treasury at 855-868-0151 for assistance.

F. References

  • GN 02401.908 Description of Forms or Letters Used or Reviewed By the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) Questioned Documents Branch (QDB)

  • GN 02401.910 Handwriting Analysis and Checks Older than 12 Months

  • GN 02406.001 Glossary of Non-Receipt Terms

  • GN 02406.160B.2. When to Use Forms FMS-1133 and FMS-3858

  • SM 01315.132 How the SSI Nonreceipt/Stop Payment System Works


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202406220
GN 02406.220 - Failure to Receive Form FMS-1133 Claims Package, Forgery or Handwriting Analysis Determination – Follow-up - 06/25/2024
Batch run: 10/25/2024
Rev:06/25/2024