TN 16 (11-23)

NL 00711.120 Checks and Power of Attorney Paragraphs

5700 CHECK INQUIRY — GENERAL

A benefit check for any month is generally dated and mailed in the following month. The check you received dated  (a)  , was for the month of  (b)  .

5705A INITIAL ALLEGATION OF NONRECEIPT

Generally, checks to persons outside the United States are mailed to their places of residence. They are mailed by the U.S. Treasury Department to a consular office located in the country where the beneficiary is. In a few places, for example, in Hong Kong, special arrangements are made for check delivery, in which case the beneficiary is notified.

5705B DELAY OUTSIDE THE U.S.

It usually takes longer to deliver checks outside the U.S. because of the longer distances and extra handling needed. Delivery time varies from country to country and the checks may not arrive the same day each month. Sometimes something may happen which will cause an extra delay—for instance, a postal strike in the country of residence.

5705C WHAT TO DO

If you do not receive your check after a reasonable waiting period, contact the nearest United States consular office or write directly to us. We will find out what happened and advise you as quickly as we can.

5720 REFUSAL OF U.S. ADDRESS ON COUNTERPART FUND CASES

Under no circumstances may a beneficiary visiting or residing in (country) have checks mailed to an address in the United States, other than a financial organization.

5721 REASON FOR DELIVERY TO PLACE OF RESIDENCE OUTSIDE U.S.

It is the policy of the Social Security Administration to deliver benefit checks due beneficiaries residing outside the United States to their foreign addresses. This enables the Social Security Administration to maintain proper controls over benefits to persons outside the country and ensures that the laws and regulations governing payment of benefits to persons abroad are being observed.

5722 REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION ON NONRECEIPT

You should submit a signed statement explaining exactly which check or checks you have not received. Please send this information to the Social Security Administration, P.O. Box 17769, Baltimore, Maryland 21203, U.S.A. Upon receipt of this statement, a prompt investigation of the matter will be made.

5725 DIRECT DEPOSITS OF SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS

Under no circumstances may a beneficiary living outside the United States have checks mailed to a relative or any other private address in the United States. If, however, they wish to authorize a responsible banking institution or trust company to receive and deposit their benefit payments, such an arrangement may be used.

5730 ALLEGED NEED OF U.S. CURRENCY IN COUNTERPART FUND COUNTRY

The Social Security Administration has agreed to the payment of social security benefits in local currency in any country in which it is deemed in the national interest to do so. The decision as to the specific country involved is one which is made by the Treasury and State Departments. Since (a) name of country is one of the designated countries, your benefits will be paid in local currency rather than United States currency. Under certain conditions, dollar checks may be issued to meet a bona fide obligation in the United States. Since you indicate a need for United States currency, we suggest that you contact the United States Foreign Service post from which you receive your check.

If you have any questions about the manner in which your checks are being delivered, we suggest that you contact the United States Foreign Service post from which you receive your checks.

5735 REFUSAL TO HONOR A POWER OF ATTORNEY FILED FROM COUNTERPART FUND COUNTRY

Your Power of Attorney authorizing the (a) name and address of bank, etc. to receive your monthly social security benefits and your reason for making the authorization have been carefully examined and reviewed. We are unable to honor your request.

The Social Security Administration has agreed to the payment of social security benefits in local currency in any country in which it is deemed in the national interest to do so. The decision as to the specific country involved is one which is made by the Treasury and State Departments. Since (b) name of country is one of the designated countries, all checks are issued in local currency. However, where a beneficiary requires dollars to meet an obligation in the United States, the United States Embassy Disbursing Officer has the sole authority to issue checks in dollar amounts sufficient to meet this obligation.

We suggest that you forward your request to the Disbursing Officer at the United States Embassy in (c) name of city . The request should be in writing and, if possible, should contain documentary evidence supporting the request.

5740 POLICY ON USE OF POWER OF ATTORNEY

There are several reasons why we prefer to mail checks directly to our beneficiaries. A bank will not ordinarily know whether an event has taken place which may affect eligibility for the check (such as work or moving to a country where social security benefits are not payable). The responsibility for reporting these events to the Social Security Administration is placed by law directly on the beneficiary. Thus, when monthly checks are issued to, and negotiated by the beneficiary, their personal endorsement on the check each month attests to their continued eligibility for payment. This policy applies whether the beneficiary is in this country or outside the United States. If they are outside the United States, special controls are needed to insure that the beneficiary is still alive and receiving monthly benefits.