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This change was made on Apr 11, 2018. See latest version.
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VB 01503.117: Beneficiary's Return Abroad

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  • Effective Dates: 07/07/2014 - Present
  • Effective Dates: 04/11/2018 - Present
  • BASIC (01-02)
  • VB 01503.117 Beneficiary's Return Abroad
  • A. Introduction
  • The date the SVB recipient returns to his or her home abroad is material in determining if SVB is payable during and subsequent to a stay in the United States. As explained in VB 01503.115A, the recipient is instructed to notify SSA when he or she returns abroad, and if not notified, the CPS will be alerted to investigate the SVB recipient's whereabouts via the MDW prepared per VB 01503.115B.
  • B. Procedure — Beneficiary Notifies SSA of Return to Home Abroad
  • 1. Office Receiving Notification
  • If the SVB beneficiary notifies SSA that he or she is returning to his or her foreign residence, but he or she has not yet actually departed the United States, instruct the individual to contact SSA (FSP or FO) upon his or her arrival abroad.
  • If the SVB beneficiary notifies SSA that he or she is returning to his or her foreign residence, but he or she has not yet actually departed the United States, instruct the individual to contact SSA (FBU or FO) upon his or her arrival abroad.
  • When SSA is notified that an SVB recipient has returned abroad, obtain a signed statement showing the address where he or she is to reside. In addition, obtain evidence documenting the date of his or her arrival to the foreign country. Evidence can include, but is no limited to:
  • * Visa or passport,
  • * Plane ticket, or
  • * Entry permit.
  • Absent evidence to the contrary, proof is not necessary to establish that the individual has actually resumed living at the foreign address shown on his or her signed statement (e.g., lease agreement, rental receipt, utility bills, etc.) as long as:
  • * The address where the SVB recipient is to reside agrees with the address shown on the SVB SSR; and
  • * SVB entitlement continues uninterrupted (i.e., no suspension months incurred for failing to be a foreign resident).
  • Fax and then mail to the CPS having SVB jurisdiction the signed statement and evidence documenting the date of the recipient's arrival abroad (and, if required, proof establishing that he or she is actually living at the address reflected on the signed statement).
  • 2. CPS
  • Update the MDW (established per VB 01503.115B) to indicate the pending issue has been resolved.
  • If the SVB recipient's visit to the United States did not exceed 1 full calendar month, no further action is necessary. If the U.S. visit exceeded 1 full calendar month, follow VB 01503.120.
  • C. Procedure—SSA Not Notified of Return to Home Abroad; Record Displayed on MDW Tickle List
  • 1. CPS
  • Request the FSP or FO servicing the SVB recipient's foreign address reflected on the SVB SSR to develop the individual's whereabouts. Annotate the issue on the MDW and tickle for 60 days (or other foreign development diary timeframe per GN 00904.245B).
  • Request the FBU or FO servicing the SVB recipient's foreign address reflected on the SVB SSR to develop the individual's whereabouts. Annotate the issue on the MDW and tickle for 60 days (or other foreign development diary timeframe per GN 00904.245B).
  • (NOTE: Per MSOM MDW 001.003, the system will set a 15-day tickle date if one is not entered. This timeframe is insufficient when foreign contacts are involved.)
  • 2. FSP or FO
  • 2. FBU or FO
  • Obtain evidence (as in VB 01503.117B.1.) documenting the SVB recipient's arrival abroad. Fax and then mail the evidence to the CPS having SVB jurisdiction. If contact with the SVB recipient is unsuccessful, develop his or her whereabouts in accordance with VB 01503.300.
  • D. Example
  • 1. U.S. Visit Does Not Exceed 1 Full Calendar Month
  • On April 28, Mr. Callas notified the FSP that he was leaving the Philippines to visit his daughter in the United States and expected to be back in the Philippines on May 26; and that he continues to consider himself to be a Philippine resident. The FSP faxed and forwarded the information and signed statement to the CPS. The CPS prepared an MDW and tickled the issue for June 1. As of the tickle date, SSA had not been notified of Mr. Callas' return to the Philippines. The CPS requested the FSP to develop his whereabouts. The FSP successfully contacts Mr. Callas at the Philippine address shown on the SVB SSR. He had forgotten that he was supposed to contact the FSP when he arrived back in the Philippines. The FSP obtains a copy of Mr. Callas' plane ticket verifying his return to the Philippines on May 26 and faxes, and then mails, the evidence to the CPS. The CPS updates the MDW to reflect that the pending issue has been resolved. No further action is necessary as Mr. Callas' visit to the United States did not exceed 1 full calendar month and he did not relinquish his foreign residence.
  • On April 28, Mr. Callas notified the FBU that he was leaving the Philippines to visit his daughter in the United States and expected to be back in the Philippines on May 26; and that he continues to consider himself to be a Philippine resident. The FBU faxed and forwarded the information and signed statement to the CPS. The CPS prepared an MDW and tickled the issue for June 1. As of the tickle date, SSA had not been notified of Mr. Callas' return to the Philippines. The CPS requested the FBU to develop his whereabouts. The FBU successfully contacts Mr. Callas at the Philippine address shown on the SVB SSR. He had forgotten that he was supposed to contact the FBU when he arrived back in the Philippines. The FBU obtains a copy of Mr. Callas' plane ticket verifying his return to the Philippines on May 26 and faxes, and then mails, the evidence to the CPS. The CPS updates the MDW to reflect that the pending issue has been resolved. No further action is necessary as Mr. Callas' visit to the United States did not exceed 1 full calendar month and he did not relinquish his foreign residence.
  • 2. U.S. Visit Exceeds 1 Full Calendar Month
  • Using example 1 above, however, when the FSP contacts Mr. Callas, he provides evidence showing he returned to the Philippines on June 2. Mr. Callas decided to stay in the United States a couple days longer than planned in order to get a lower airfare back to the Philippines; since he considered himself to be a Philippine resident during the entire period, he did not think it was necessary to contact SSA. SVB for June is not payable because Mr. Callas' U.S. visit exceeded the full calendar month of May. The FSP treats this information as an adverse first-party report per VB 01501.011B.1. The FSP faxes and mails to the CPS evidence of Mr. Callas' arrival in the Philippines and any other documentation obtained showing that Mr. Callas' visit to the United States exceeded 1 full calendar month. The CPS will process the adverse report per VB 01501.011B.2.
  • Using example 1 above, however, when the FBU contacts Mr. Callas, he provides evidence showing he returned to the Philippines on June 2. Mr. Callas decided to stay in the United States a couple days longer than planned in order to get a lower airfare back to the Philippines; since he considered himself to be a Philippine resident during the entire period, he did not think it was necessary to contact SSA. SVB for June is not payable because Mr. Callas' U.S. visit exceeded the full calendar month of May. The FBU treats this information as an adverse first-party report per VB 01501.011B.1. The FBU faxes and mails to the CPS evidence of Mr. Callas' arrival in the Philippines and any other documentation obtained showing that Mr. Callas' visit to the United States exceeded 1 full calendar month. The CPS will process the adverse report per VB 01501.011B.2.
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