BASIC (03-11)

A. Introduction

Every two years, SVB beneficiaries under age 90 will receive notification of benefit review along with Form SSA-2010-F6.

Every year, SVB beneficiaries age 90 or older will receive a request to have a face-to-face interview with the Foreign Service Post (FSP). The FSP assists beneficiaries who are age 90 or older in completing the SSA-2010-F6 during the face-to-face interviews.

The FSP requests from SSA or, if possible, uploads from the SSA system, the list of SVB beneficiaries who are age 90 or older for the face-to-face interviews. The San Francisco (SF) region or FSP (as arranged in advance) mail notices for the yearly face-to-face reviews to the SVB beneficiaries.

The yearly contact with SVB beneficiaries age 90 or older establishes that the beneficiaries are still alive. You must obtain the benefit review Form SSA-2010-F6 and any relevant evidence, as applicable, to determine continuing entitlement.

B. Procedure for selecting benefit review cases

1. Criteria for selecting cases for beneficiaries who are under 90 years of age:

• PSY status of C01, and

• The start date either equals the date of benefit entitlement or is at least 2 years from the last benefit review (effective the month after the month of the last review).

The Central Processing Sites (CPS) or the SF Regional Office contacts the beneficiaries by mail.

2. Criteria for selecting cases for beneficiaries who are 90 years of age or older:

• PSY status of C01, and

• The start date either equals the date of benefit entitlement or is at least 1 year from the last benefit review (effective the month after the month of the last review).

C. Procedure for mailing form and controlling cases

CPS or FSP initiates contact with beneficiaries by mail:

• The mailer for the beneficiaries under age 90 includes a cover letter, Form SSA-2010-F6, and a return envelope.

• The mailer for the beneficiaries age 90 or over includes a letter requesting a face-to-face interview and an envelope for a reply in case the beneficiary is deceased or there is another reporting issue.

For all SVB beneficiaries in PSY C01 status, always record case controls on the SF Regional website: “Special Veterans Benefits”.

Include the following information on the cover letter:

• the beneficiary’s address,

• the SSA office to which the form should be returned,

• an explanation of the reason for our request,

• instructions for completing the form,

• a timeframe for responding,

• notification of possible suspension of benefits for not responding,

• items that the beneficiary must report to SSA, and

• instructions for contacting FSP and SSA.

D. Handling an initial written request in the servicing office

Beneficiaries under age 90 return Form SSA-2010-F6, along with corroborating evidence, within 30 calendar days from the date of the request. Allow 15 calendar days for mailing time, in addition to the 30 calendar days to respond. You must always record the case controls on the SF Regional website .

Instruct beneficiaries age 90 or over to contact the nearest FSP, or local SSA office to arrange a time for a face-to-face interview. The FSP may arrange for face-to-face contacts, as deemed necessary. You must always record the case controls on the SF Regional website .

E. Handling a follow-up request in the servicing office

If the beneficiary does not return the form, the servicing office sends a follow-up request. The follow-up cover letter informs beneficiaries of a possible benefit suspension if they do not return the form and required evidence to SSA within 30 days. Allow 15 days for mailing time.

In regards to benefit reviews, the servicing office may contact beneficiaries directly, as deemed necessary. If the post office returns the form as undeliverable, refer to Suspension and Termination Events VB 01500.00.

You must always record the case controls on the SF Regional website .

If the returned form is incomplete, forward a request for assistance to the FSP, as appropriate. Establish case controls on the SF website to control the request for assistance.

See Details:

• VB 00210.001 – Claims Development Procedures

• GN 00905.350 – Function of the SSA Division in FSP, Manila — Background

• GN 00904.230 – Requesting Assistance from FSP Personnel Abroad

NOTE: If the beneficiary subsequently furnishes any additional evidence to CPS, forward it to the FSP along with an amended request for assistance. If you no longer require additional information, notify the FSP to stop their development.

F. Procedure for cases with representative payee involvement

If a representative payee fails to respond to our requests for the SSA-2010 or for requests for additional evidence, redirect payment to the FSP.

Field Offices follow instructions for redirection of benefit payments in Selection, Mailing, and Control of Annual Accounting Forms VB 00501.032D.

FSP follow instructions for handling redirected payments in Selection, Mailing, and Control of Annual Accounting Forms VB 00501.032E.

G. Procedure if a beneficiary visits the CPS office or returns a form by mail to the CPS office

Upon receipt of the completed Form SSA-2010-F6 and evidence, CPS reviews and compares the information to the information obtained during the initial SVB application or past benefit review. You must always record the case controls on the SF Regional website .

Refer to Evaluation of Completed Form VB 01701.025.

H. Procedure if a beneficiary visits or mails the form to an FSP

1. Receipt of the form by mail at the FSP:

• Review the SSA-2010-F6 for completion (see Completion of Form SSA-2010-F6 VB 01701.015).

• Obtain evidence to support the beneficiary’s answers on the form.

• Follow GN 00301.322 regarding retaining paper material after faxing into the claims folder using NDRed.

• Transfer documentation to the appropriate CPS office, as indicated on the SSA-2010-F6. If necessary, mail or fax documents to the CPS offices.

• Update the control in the SF Regional website .

2. Walk-in visits at the FSP by the beneficiary or the representative payee with the beneficiary:

• Conduct a face-to-face interview.

• Complete Form SSA-2010-F6 (see Completion of Form SSA-2010-F6 VB 01701.015).

• Obtain evidence to support the beneficiary’s answers on the form.

• Obtain attestation for SVB forms, which is acceptable as listed in Alternative Signature Methods GN 00201.015.

• Follow GN 00301.322 regarding retaining paper material after faxing into the claims folder using NDRed.

• Transfer documentation to the appropriate CPS office, as indicated on the SSA-2010-F6. If necessary, mail or fax documents to the CPS offices.

• Update the control on the SF Regional website .

I. Procedure when a beneficiary mails Form SSA-2010-F6 to an FO (non-CPS office), or to the processing center (PC)

Forward all mail correspondence to the controlling CPS office, as indicated on the SSA-2010-F6 or as indicated by the SVB SF Regional website control.