BASIC (01-02)

A. Introduction

It is essential that SSA records show a current and accurate address for all SVB recipients so that he/she can be contacted when necessary to confirm continuing SVB qualification and entitlement, and/or to verify that SVB is being paid in the correct amount. Mail (including benefit checks) returned to SSA as “undeliverable” by the mailing authorities may indicate that the recipient has moved or that the address of record is incorrect. If the recipient cannot be located after reasonable efforts are made, suspension of SVB is permitted (S06).

B. Process -- Systems Generated S06 Actions

When a returned check notification from the Treasury Department (TD) is coded “AD” (Address), the system will suspend payment S06 the first month possible based on the recurring cutoff date (on active records) unless a new address has been posted to the SSR after the check date shown in the payment history. (If a new address has been posted, the system will automatically reissue the returned benefit check to the new address.) In addition to suspending benefits, a “returned check alert” is generated to advise the servicing office reflected on the SSR (i.e., the CPS having SVB jurisdiction) of the need to develop address information.

S06 suspensions are also systems-generated, and benefits will be suspended beginning the first month possible based on the recurring cutoff, when a returned check is transmitted via the Payment Menu in the Direct SSR update. In these situations the system assumes that the office of input realizes that the transmission will result in an S06 suspension and will not generate a “returned check alert.”

IMPORTANT: Systems generated S06 actions on SVB records will NOT automatically generate a Notice of Planned Action (SSA-L8155) as is done on SSI records per SI 02301.240B.2. All notices on SVB claims must be manually prepared.

C. Process — Manual S06 Inputs

SVB payments can be manually suspended via MSSICS or SSA-1719B when efforts to locate the beneficiary are unsuccessful. Only the CPS having SVB jurisdiction will process manual S06 inputs. Alerts are not generated on manual S06 suspensions.

IMPORTANT: Manual S06 inputs on SVB records will NOT automatically generate a Notice of Planned Action (SSA-L8155) as is done on SSI records per SI 02301.240B.1. All notices on SVB claims must be manually prepared.