1.

Beneficiary is in the office reporting NH’s death

Follow instructions in GN 02602.050. Confirm dual entitlement (DE) and age of beneficiary. Obtain a signed SSA-4111 if he or she elects to receive permanently reduced benefits. Go to step 2.

Beneficiary reports NH’s death by telephone

Follow instructions in GN 02602.050. Confirm dual entitlement (DE) and age of beneficiary. Mail an SSA-4111 with cover notice (see NL 00703.933). Include a pre-addressed return envelope to the servicing payment center (PC). Annotate the Special Message Field that SSA-4111 was mailed;

and

2.

Send a Modernized Development Worksheet (MDW) to the servicing PC requesting payment of the lump sum death payment (LSDP) if payable.

3.

Beneficiary elects reduced benefits

And the NH died prior to FRA or prior to 12 months past FRA and the SSA-4111 is completed within 3 months after the month of the NH’s death: discuss with the beneficiary if the NH was unable to work due to disability prior to death. If disability is alleged at least 5 months prior to the month of death and before FRA, obtain an application and proceed with disability development. See policy in DI 23510.001B; and

4.

See policy in GN 02602.040. Evaluate the suitability of the month of election (MOEL) using the rules in GN 00204.039 if a retirement insurance benefit limitation (RIB/LIM) applies.

Obtain appropriate earnings record to determine if a recomputation is necessary. If the beneficiary is eligible for a widow(er)’s indexing (WINDEX) computation, a certified earnings record (ER) is required.

Verify marital status at time of death (if it appears questionable) to determine continuing eligibility, proper beneficiary identification code (BIC) designation and entitlement to the lump sum death payment (LSDP). EXAMPLE: The presence of a subsequent wife or husband on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), or an address or name change for a BIC “B” that occurred before the NH died may indicate that the marriage ended before his or her death.

Consider if government pension offset (GPO) is involved and develop for evidence of current pension amounts in cases where full offset was being imposed and partial payment is now due. See instructions in MSOM COMMON 003.002.

Consider the effect of conversion on other beneficiaries. The claimant may withdraw an “unwanted” widow(er) insurance benefit (WIB) if disadvantageous to others.

Award BIC “D” benefits using the Certificate of Election (CELE) common screen (see MSOM COMMON 005.009 and SM 03020.060 regarding the CELE process) and delete the special message field if applicable. See also GN 02602.040B and SM 00875.500 if a foreign address is involved.

See SM 00820.150 for manual processing instructions. Do not prepare an SSA-A101 or EF101.

IMPORTANT: See RS 00207.005 for situations when benefits should not be converted.

Document the Certificate of Election by faxing the SSA-4111 into the appropriate electronic folder; and

5.

Document any applicable evidence per GN 00301.286.

6.

Beneficiary does not elect reduced benefits

Annotate or update the special message field accordingly and check to see if RIB/LIM applies. If yes, develop for the first month the beneficiary is limited by the RIB LIM. For further instruction, see GN 00204.039 through GN 00204.045.

The system alerts suspended, dually entitled widow(er)s or surviving divorced spouses at FRA and awards benefits. See instructions in SM 00820.150.

Death termination not processed

Input death termination per TC 14001.020.

DE status and age of beneficiary is not confirmed

Refer to the FO via MDW and advise the caller that the FO will contact him or her.

DE status and age of beneficiary is confirmed

Mail the SSA-4111 to the beneficiary under cover notice SSA-4111/L7 (see NL 00703.933) if one has not been mailed (check special message field). Include a pre-addressed return envelope to the servicing PC; and

Annotate the special message field “SSA-4111 mailed MM/DD/YY (TSC Code).”

The caller requests status on the processing of an SSA-4111 that he or she completed and returned

Review the special message field. If more than 30 calendar days elapsed since the claimant alleges mailing the SSA-4111, contact the Program Center (PC) via MDW 2560HP. If the PC has not received the SSA-4111, advise the caller to allow additional processing time.

The claimant alleges non-receipt of the SSA-4111 or did not receive it and sufficient time has elapsed

Mail another SSA-4111 and update the special message field.

1.

Ascertain whether the NH’s death termination action has processed. If not, process the NH’s death termination per instructions in GN 02602.050; and

2.

Confirm dual entitlement (DE) and age of widow(er) or surviving divorced spouse.

3.

Verify marital status at time of death if it appears questionable to determine continuing eligibility, proper BIC designation and entitlement to the LSDP.

EXAMPLE: The presence of a subsequent wife or husband on the MBR, or an address or name change for a BIC “B” that occurred before the NH died may indicate that the marriage ended before his or her death.

4.

For manual conversion or suspension action, see instructions in SM 00820.150 for systems processing instructions.

5.

If Special Message field does not indicate that SSA-4111 was mailed, send Exhibit letter in NL 00703.932 (E3932) and an SSA-4111. Include a return envelope pre-addressed to the servicing PC.

6.

Input Special Message Data (SMS1) screen, “SSA-4111 mailed to [widow(er) or surviving divorced spouse] on MM/DD/YY PC X.” Do not control for return of SSA-4111.

7.

Pay the LSDP if payable after verifying payment has not been made.