TN 71 (11-08)

A. Policy

A diary must be prepared when a claimant files for one benefit and delays entitlement to another benefit, which is or will be higher at a future point. (See GN 00204.039C.4)

B. Procedure

1. Field Office Responsibility

1. Give the claimant the monthly benefit amount information he/she needs to determine the month of election for the second benefit.

2. Diary for 5 months earlier than the month of election (MOE).

   • See MSOM MCS 009.013 and MSOM MCS 009.015 for how to enter codes on DECI and complete DIAR.

   • Annotate the routing screen/routing form that a diary is being established.

   • See GN 01040.010 for diary codes.

2. Processing Center Responsibility

1. When the diary matures, query the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), Modernized Claims System (MCS) screens, Numident, etc., to determine if the claimant is alive and has not filed for (or become entitled to) the class of benefits for which the diary was prepared.

2. No action is necessary if the claimant has filed for the other benefit or died. Otherwise, establish a Processing Center Action Control System (PCACS) control for the field office to develop for the other claim.