A. Operating Procedure — General

• The manager or his/her alternate in the office receiving the offer will sign the letters.

• Provide a copy to CFO, FPO, OFR, Division of Finance, P. O. Box 17042, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

B. Exhibits

1. LETTER FOR AN UNCONDITIONAL GIFT/BEQUEST

“Thank you for (your/name of donor other than writer) unconditional (gift/ bequest) to the (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. A receipt is enclosed.”

2. LETTER FOR UNCONDITIONAL OFFER OF BENEFIT CHECK(S) AFTER RECEIPT (NOT SYSTEM DEDUCTION)

“Thank you for your unconditional gift of the proceeds of your monthly benefit check(s) to the (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. We are acknowledging your authorization to deposit (designated amount) to the (designated trust fund). This amount will continue to be deposited into the (designated trust fund) until and unless revoked by you in writing.”

3. LETTER FOR WRITTEN OFFER OF AN UNCONDITIONAL GIFT/BEQUEST

“Thank you for (your/name of donor other than writer) offer of an unconditional (gift/bequest) to the (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. We will be happy to accept it provided it is given with a written statement which establishes that the gift is unconditional. For your convenience, we have enclosed a statement to this effect. Should you need any further assistance, please phone or visit (this office/any Social Security office).”

(Use an SSA-795 and include the appropriate statement (see GN 02413.003); do not designate a trust fund unless the written offer has designated a trust fund.)

4. LETTER FOR AMBIGUOUS GIFT/BEQUEST

“Thank you for (your/name of donor other than writer) (gift/bequest) to the (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. The law permits us to accept only unconditional money gifts and bequests. Although we appreciate your kind (gift/bequest), we are returning it to you because it is not clear that you intended it to be unconditional, and under the law, we cannot accept (gifts/ bequests) that are conditional.

“If the (gift/bequest) is intended to be unconditional, we will be happy to accept it provided it is accompanied by a written statement that the (gift/ bequest) is unconditional. For your convenience, we have enclosed a statement to that effect should you decide that the (gift/bequest) is to be unconditional. Should you require any further assistance, please phone or visit (this office/any Social Security office).”

(Use an SSA-795 and obtain the statement. See GN 02413.003. Do not designate a trust fund.)

5. LETTER FOR AMBIGUOUS OFFER

“Thank you for (your/name of donor other than writer) offer of a (gift/ bequest) to the (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. The law provides that only unconditional money gifts and bequests may be accepted.

“If the (gift/bequest) is intended to be unconditional, we will be happy to accept it provided it is accompanied by a written statement that the (gift/bequest) is unconditional. For your convenience, we have enclosed a statement to that effect should you decide that the (gift/bequest) is to be unconditional. Should you require any further assistance, please phone or visit (this office/any Social Security office).”

(Use an SSA-795 and obtain the statement. See GN 02413.003. Do not designate a trust fund.)

6. LETTER FOR RETURNED CHECK(S) BASED ON RUMORS CONCERNING THE LACK OF SOUNDNESS OF TRUST FUNDS

“Thank you for the gift of your benefit check(s) to (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. You indicated that this gift is a result of recent (newspaper articles, television news, etc.) concerning the future of Social Security (or SSI).

“Because your very generous gift is based on reports of the lack of soundness of the Social Security system (or the funding for payment of SSI), let me emphasize that the trust funds are projected to be in good financial shape well into the next century. In fact, income to the trust funds is expected to exceed outgo for the next several decades. Therefore, your money must be returned to you. The actual check(s) you returned must be cancelled; however, a new check(s) for the same amount will be issued. If upon receipt of the new check(s) you still wish to make a gift to the Government, please contact (this office/any Social Security office) for any assistance you may require.”

7. LETTER FOR OFFER TO RETURN CHECKS BASED ON RUMORS CONCERNING THE LACK OF SOUNDNESS OF TRUST FUNDS

“Thank you for your offer to return (number of) your Social Security benefit (SSI) check(s) as a gift to the (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. You indicated that this gift is a result of (newspaper articles, television news, etc.) concerning the future of Social Security (SSI). Let me assure you that the President and Congress have done all in their power to return the Social Security system to a sound fiscal basis. The Social Security system is projected to be in good financial shape well into the next century. In fact, income to the system is expected to exceed outgo for the next several decades. Therefore, your offer must be declined.

“However, if you still wish to make a gift to the Government, please phone or visit (this office/any Social Security office) for any assistance you may require.”

8. RESPONSE FOR CONDITIONAL GIFT/BEQUEST

“I am sorry, but we cannot accept (your/name of donor other than writer) (gift/bequest) to the (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. The law permits us to accept only unconditional money gifts and bequests. We must return this (gift/bequest) because it is conditional.”

9. REPLY FOR OFFER OF CONDITIONAL GIFT/BEQUEST

“I am sorry, but we cannot accept (your/name of donor other than writer) offer of a (gift/bequest) to the (name of trust fund/Department of Health and Human Services/part or officer thereof) on behalf of the United States. The law permits us to accept only unconditional money gifts and bequests. We must decline (your/name of donor other than writer) kind offer because it is conditional.”