SSA must make every reasonable effort to obtain evidence needed to determine an individual's
continuing SVB qualification and entitlement, and/or to verify that SVB is being paid
in the correct amount. The process is:
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Provide an initial written request for information/evidence;
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Provide a follow-up request;
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Exhaust all reasonable efforts to obtain the information when an individual fails
to comply with the above requests;
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Document all efforts undertaken; and
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Apply the claims development guidelines in VB 00210.001C. to determine the servicing office for SVB development purposes. Generally, the CPS
will be the servicing office if development is undertaken via direct mail with an
individual who is outside the United States. When a CPS requests assistance from another
SSA office in obtaining evidence/information, the assisting office is the servicing
office. For example, when the CPS requests the FBU to obtain evidence from an SVB
recipient in the Philippines, the servicing office is the FBU.
SVB can be suspended for failure to provide information only after all development
efforts have been exhausted (as discussed in VB 01503.210) and documented (as discussed in VB 01503.215). Only the CPS having SVB jurisdiction will input N20 suspensions. If the servicing
office is not the CPS having SVB jurisdiction, all development efforts and documentation
are to be faxed and then mailed to the CPS.