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GN 02406.505: Nonreceipt of a check Outside the United States

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  • Effective Dates: 11/06/2015 - Present
  • Effective Dates: 06/05/2018 - Present
  • TN 14 (04-00)
  • TN 49 (06-18)
  • GN 02406.505 Nonreceipt by a Beneficiary Who is or Was Outside the United States
  • GN 02406.505 Nonreceipt of a check Outside the United States
  • A. POLICY - NONRECEIPT REPORTED BY OR ON BEHALF OF A BENEFICIARY RESIDING OUTSIDE THE U.S.
  • A. Nonreceipt reported by or on behalf of a beneficiary residing outside the United States
  • When handling nonreceipt reports from beneficiaries residing abroad or third parties acting on their behalf, take into account the method of making payment to the beneficiary and the normal date that payment would be received in the country or area where the beneficiary resides. Checks for most beneficiaries in foreign countries are delivered by the State Department through American Consular offices or by APO/FPO facilities. However, checks for Canadian and Mexican beneficiaries are sent directly.
  • When handling a nonreceipt report for beneficiaries residing abroad or third parties acting on their behalf, be mindful of the following:
  • * The way a payment is made to the beneficiary; and
  • * The original date when beneficiary receives his or her payment in their country or area.
  • B. PROCEDURE
  • The U.S. Department of State delivers most checks to beneficiaries in foreign countries by Army Post Office (APO) and Fleet Post Office (FPO) facilities. The checks for APO and FPO are mailed directly to the APO and FPO facilities. They are not sent through the consulates.
  • 1. Nonreceipt reported by a beneficiary residing outside the U.S.
  • * Input the nonreceipt claim if the report contains the required information (claim number, payee name, payment date, payment amount, and signature). If the report is made by telephone, establish the identity of the caller GN 03001.012.
  • * If the FO received the report and it does not contain the required information, forward the report to the Office of International Operations (OIO), P.O. Box 17769, Baltimore, Maryland, 21203-7769. Border offices may make direct contact with beneficiaries in Canada.
  • However, SSA sends checks directly to beneficiaries residing in Canada and Mexico.
  • 2. Nonreceipt reported by a third party
  • * Explain the payment delivery procedure.
  • * Suggest that the payee contact the nearest American Consular office if the check is not received within a reasonable period after the scheduled time the check is usually received by the payee.
  • * Send an MDW to OIO. OIO will take appropriate action to ensure that a check was or is issued and mailed, if due.
  • B. Processing reports of nonreceipts from outside the United States
  • See GN 02402.250 for allegations of nonreceipt of international direct deposit.
  • Follow these steps when processing reports of nonreceipt by a beneficiary residing outside the United States.
  • Do not CPS when a foreign address is involved. Send a critical case request to OIO per MSOM ADMIN 003.004. An IP may be possible if the consular code is listed in SM 00635.001E. ZIP field.
  • Step
  • Action
  • 1
  • Obtain the required information from the beneficiary who reports the nonreceipt:
  • * claim number,
  • * payee name,
  • * payment date,
  • * payment amount, and
  • * Signature.
  • If the beneficiary reports a non-receipt claim by telephone, establish the identity of the caller. For more information on establishing the identity of the caller, see GN 03001.012.
  • Once you obtain the required information, go to step 2.
  • If you do not have, the required information go to step 3.
  • 2
  • Input the nonreceipt. For more information on inputting nonrecipt reports, see GN 02406.515.
  • STOP.
  • 3
  • Forward the report of nonreceipt to the Office of Earnings and International Operations (OEIO), P.O. Box 17769, Baltimore, Maryland, 21235-7769.
  • NOTE: Canadian border offices may make direct contact with beneficiaries in Canada.
  • C. Processing reports of nonreceipt by a third party
  • Follow these steps when processing a report of nonreceipt by a third party outside of the United States.
  • Step
  • Action
  • 1
  • Explain the payment delivery procedure. For more information on payment delivery, see GN 02407.005.
  • 2
  • Tell the payee to contact the nearest American Consular office if the check is not received within a reasonable period after the scheduled time the check is usually received by the payee.
  • 3
  • Send a Modernized Development Worksheet (MDW) to OEIO. OEIO will take appropriate action to ensure that we issue a check if due.
  • Do not issue a critical payment when a foreign address is involved.
  • Note: Field Offices (FOs) should forward critical payment cases with foreign addresses to OEIO, and follow the Manager-to-Manager (M2M) process in GN 01070.228.A.5 Modes of Requesting Assistance.
  • Additionally, do not issue an immediate payment when a foreign address is involved if you are not located in a FO in Canada or Mexico. Only border FOs in Mexico and Canada can issue an immediate payment (IP). For more information on the guidelines for immediate payments issued in Canadian and Mexican border field offices, see SM 00635.001H.
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