The Program Service Center (PSC) should take the following actions when resolving the death alert and the allegedly deceased beneficiary is the payee for an auxiliary (or auxiliaries):

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  Notify the FO immediately to develop for a representative payee for the auxiliary or to determine if we should consider direct payment of benefits to the auxiliary. For determining whether we need to appoint a new payee, see GN 00504.100.

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  Do not substitute a minor child’s or incapable childhood disability beneficiary’s surviving parent who lived in the same household as the beneficiary’s payee when the current parent payee dies without first completing payee development. For determining whether we should appoint a new payee, see GN 00504.100. The system suspends the child’s benefits until the FO takes and approves a new payee application.

  IMPORTANT: Current law and policy require a face-to-face interview and investigation before selecting a new representative payee.