PolicyNet/Instructions Updates/EM-09025: Fugitive = Felon: Stop Suspension or Denial of Individuals with Felony Warrants = Affected by the Martinez Settlement

From: Subject: PolicyNet/Instructions Updates/EM-09025: Fugitive Felon: Stop Suspension or Denial of Individuals with Felony Warrants Affected by the Martinez Settlement Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:12:08 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C9C742.26CE40F0" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C9C742.26CE40F0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/public/reference.nsf/1bb8ac5165f7ca5d85256c230074491b/d1b93c8fb6546e4985257591006c977b%21OpenDocument PolicyNet/Instructions Updates/EM-09025: Fugitive = Felon: Stop Suspension or Denial of Individuals with Felony Warrants = Affected by the Martinez Settlement

SocialSecurityOnline		Policy Instruction
www.socialsecurity.gov		Previous \| Next

Identification Number	EM-09025	Effective Date:=20 04/01/2009
Intended Audience:	All=20 RCs/ARCs/ADs/FOs/TSCs/PSCs/OCO/ODARHQ/ALJs
Originating Office:	ORDP = OISP
Title:	Fugitive=20 Felon: Stop Suspension or Denial of Individuals with Felony = Warrants=20 Affected by the Martinez Settlement
Type:	EM - = Emergency=20 Messages

Program:	Title = II (RSI);=20 Title VIII (SVB); Title XVI (SSI)
Link To Reference:	See References at the bottom of = this=20 EM

Retention Date: October 1, 2009

Background:
As=20 a result of a settlement agreement in Martinez,=20 et al. v. Astrue, which should soon = be=20 approved by the court, this Emergency Message (EM) provides new=20 instructions for processing Title II, Title VIII, Title XVI = payments and=20 representative payee actions that involve outstanding felony=20 warrants. Martinez=20 challenged the agency=92s policy and procedures in applying non = payment=20 actions to fugitive felons and non-selection of fugitive felons as = representative payees. The settlement agreement requires the = agency to=20 change its processing of certain fugitive felon non-payments and=20 non-selections (representative payees) effective April 1, 2009.=20

NOTE: The=20 Martinez settlement=20 does not affect SSA=92s policy or procedures for processing Title = II, Title=20 VIII, or Title XVI payments or representative payee actions for = cases=20 involving outstanding parole or probation violation warrants (e.g. = offense=20 codes 5011 and 5012.) Therefore, continue to follow current = instructions=20 for processing cases involving these warrants. =

Martinez Settlement=20 Policy
Effective immediately, SSA = policy is=20 to suspend or deny Title II and Title VIII benefits or Title XVI = payments,=20 and to prohibit an individual from serving as a representative = payee only=20 if the individual=92s outstanding felony warrant was issued for = one of the=20 following three offenses:

Escape (offense code 4901),
Flight to Avoid prosecution, = confinement, etc.=20 (offense code 4902), and
Flight-Escape (offense code 4999).=20

If more than one = felony warrant=20 exists, only suspend, deny, or do not select as a representative = payee=20 only for months during which the individual has a felony warrant = with one=20 of these three offense codes.

Processing=20 Instructions
Apply the following=20 instructions to individuals in all states including New York, = Connecticut,=20 and Vermont. The Martinez = settlement should=20 be used instead of referencing the Fowlkes Acquiescence = Ruling (AR=20 06-1(2)).

Initiate action for suspension, = non-payment, or=20 claims denial based on an outstanding felony warrant with a = felony=20 offense code of 4901, 4902, or 4999 shown on the Fugitive = Felon System=20 Control File.=20
If an appeal is pending at the = reconsideration,=20 hearing, or Appeals Council level, apply the policy in this EM = when=20 making the appeal decision.
If a representative payee applicant or = an=20 existing representative payee has an outstanding felony = warrant for=20 offense code 4901, 4902, or 4999, the individual will be = prohibited=20 from serving as a representative payee. If any other felony = warrant=20 information comes to the attention of the decision-maker, it = will be=20 used to determine an applicant=92s suitability (or continued=20 suitability) to serve as a representative payee.

Title II=20 Initial Claims
The Agency no = longer asks=20 Title II applicants or claimants about their felony status on any = of the=20 Title II benefit applications. For additional information, see GN=20 02613.050. =

Title XVI/Title VIII Eligibility=20 Determinations
For Title = XVI/Title VIII=20 initial claims, a felony status question still exists on = applications. To=20 determine eligibility, verify the felony warrant offense code = information=20 to ensure that the individual does not have one of the three = offense codes=20 listed above. Complete the fugitive felon questions on the Law = Enforcement=20 (ALEF) and Felony Warrant (AWRF) screens. The good cause code=20 =93DNH=94 (individual=20 is residing in a long term care facility) will now also be used to = code=20 cases that fall under the Martinez Settlement = provisions in=20 order to prevent non-payment of benefits.

Follow current procedures for completing MSSICS = screens (MSOM=20 MSSICS 008.022 and MSOM MSSICS 008.023). However, to ensure that = payments=20 will continue, also do the following:

On the AWRF screen, enter = =931=94 (Established) = in the GOOD=20 CAUSE field.
On the DW01 screen in MSSICS, enter=20 =93Martinez = Settlement=94 in Remarks.
On the FFDG (Fugitive Felon Warrant Due = Process/Good Cause) screen within the FFSCF (Fugitive Felon = SSA=20 Control File), enter =93DNH=94 as the Good Cause reason.
On the Good Cause Screen in FFAP = (Fugitive Felon=20 Automated Process) document that Martinez relief was = granted to=20 the case by entering the =93DNH=94=20 code.

Representative=20 Payee Applications
For=20 representative payees, the question about felony status still = exists on=20 applications. If the applicant responds that he or she has an = outstanding=20 felony warrant, verify the offense code with OIG (see GN 02613.175 = and SI=20 00530.150.) If the felony warrant offense code is 4901, 4902, or = 4999, do=20 not select the payee applicant. Generally, any criminal history = casts=20 serious doubt about the payee applicant=92s character. For any = other felony=20 offense code, consider the reason for that warrant and the=20 payee/beneficiary relationship in making the suitability = determination.=20

Identification of = Individuals=20 Affected by the Martinez=20 Settlement
Identification = of=20 individuals affected by the Martinez = settlement=20 will be done centrally and appropriate notices released. = Comprehensive=20 instructions on how to handle these cases will also be released at = a later=20 date. In the meantime, if individuals contact SSA on their own = initiative=20 about the Martinez settlement or because they recently received = a notice=20 telling them that their benefits are being suspended or that they = are not=20 being selected as a representative payee because of an outstanding = warrant=20 for a felony other than the felony offense codes above, follow the = instructions below.

A. = Field=20 Office Walk-In Traffic/Phone Calls
Each FO must maintain and preserve a = list of = individuals=20 who contact the FO and state they might be due payments in = connection with=20 the Martinez settlement. Include on the list, the name, = SSN, current=20 address, and phone number for each individual. =

No further actions should be taken at this = time.=20 Additional processing instructions will be issued at a later date. = See=20 also Pipeline Cases, below.

B.=20 TSC Calls
If an = individual calls=20 the national 800 number about the Martinez = settlement,=20 the 800 number agent will create a Manual Development Worksheet = (MDW) and=20 include the individual=92s name, SSN, current address, and phone = number.=20 Explain that no further action can be taken at this time, but = their=20 contact information will be provided to the individual=92s = servicing field=20 office for future actions. Include in REMARKS the words=20 =93Martinez Settlement=94 and=20 transfer the MDW to the servicing field office. =

If an individual calls the national 800 number = about=20 receiving a notice of fugitive felon nonpayment on or after April = 1, 2009,=20 explain the information in Pipeline Cases, = below.

C. Pipeline Cases
Title II = - Due to the=20 nature of the automated system that the agency has been using for = fugitive=20 felon non-payment processing, there may be cases in the pipeline = which=20 were already handled under the prior policy which resulted in = non-payment=20 for all felony offense codes. This automated system = releases=20 advance notices of proposed suspension and provides a 35-day = protest=20 period before suspension actions can be taken. Because the = automation of=20 these pipeline cases can result in non-payments on or after April = 1, 2009,=20 SSA may not be able to take all corrective actions as required by = the=20 Martinez settlement until a later date. =

However, beginning April 1, 2009, if a = beneficiary=20 contacts SSA within the 35-day advance notice protest period=20 and the offense code on the warrant is other than = 4901,=20 4902, 4999 (or a parole or probation offense code,) process a = protest=20 action to stop suspension of benefits according to GN=20 02613.450.

Title=20 XVI =96 For cases pending a = felony=20 suspension action in a field office, per the policy above, only = suspend=20 payments if the offense code on the warrant is 4901, 4902, 4999. = No change=20 is required for probation and parole violation suspension=20 actions.

D. Good Cause = Requests=20
Continue to process good cause = requests=20 for any felony suspension or denial determinations following = current=20 instructions in GN 02613.025 and SI 00530.015. =

If good cause cannot be approved, and the = suspension/nonpayment/denial was based on a = felony=20 warrant with an offense code other than 4901, 4902, or 4999, = include the=20 beneficiary or recipient on the FO list of Martinez contacts as = indicated=20 above.

Further Instructions = and=20 Additional Questions
Additional=20 Martinez settlement=20 processing instructions will be issued in the = future.

Direct all program related and technical questions to = your RO=20 or PC support staff. RO and PC support staff may refer questions = or=20 problems to their Central Office contacts.

References:
SI 00530.000=20 Fugitive Felons and Parole and Probation = Violators
GN 02613.000=20 Title II Fugitive Felons and Parole = and=20 Probation Violators
VB 00101.000=20 General Information on Special = Veterans=20 Benefits
GN 00504.102=20 Representative Payees Identified by = the=20 Fugitive Felon Match

EM-09025 - Fugitive Felon: Stop Suspension or Denial of = Individuals=20 with Felony Warrants Affected by the Martinez Settlement -=20 04/01/2009


		Privacy = Policy=20 \| Website = Policies &=20 Other Important = Information

------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C9C742.26CE40F0 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/icons/ecblank.gif R0lGODlhEAABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAEALAAAAAAQAAEAAAIEjI8ZBQA7 ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C9C742.26CE40F0 Content-Type: application/octet-stream Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/public/reference.nsf/firstgov3.gif!OpenImageResource R0lGODlhSAAPAOYAAP//////+P3/7vf///X/9P/5///58P/3+Pb58vj49vf3/+n8+vH3///v9f/r 7e3t9/vm4+ro7e3l4uTi7+bd3vrV3Nra3L3czc3Qyc7N0ubFvL3O2MjI0Nu9tcK/2tC8u9y4vLy8 xLq8t9S2rOurvLW2urW2saezr6Otxs+iqc6hnMifpaSlqsiYmKKipKOfttuLlNWMhZeZlpOTlcOE jYuMkLh+ioaKp4iIioeDlIKBhrpwf8VudH18gW9zkLNgaHFvhXJxd1hsjWlndWlii2Zie6hPU2Bd fK9DXcQ5VopGW5VDRbU2P6E6S1FPXUNPW7YsRUlIWExDgqonT3gzSJwrMaYkSI8mNzk0XHskHZka NTAuRDEqXRYyRysqSX0SGoINJycnM5cDJ2oPIXsJII4DGnQJGyEeO5IACYMDGhwdIhwaMnkBDXYC CxwVSHsAA04KC1cFEWcAERAKSAQNHg0IMDIABQcIDQkGIwgAPggCMAYBKgQCGAIDBwEAHwAAACH5 BAAHAP8ALAAAAABIAA8AAAf/gACCg4SFhgmDAgEfFAGOh4IDkpKGlIiGmJmEl5oKAQkRNm9LFAUF jqiPmquTA6uvmAkeRWp3WydpbBCmBQionLCswcEmTmE6GQqCIxApBQQOwa6CqdUHw9guW0EYIlJS IaYlXRslT0I+QCWDQxPV1ZK9rdjBFjgugwl4e8qCRQ90TCXYsqYfnxwACLCK12pAKnqFQlxCIEiP m1Q3UOCR4EhBjl4W8JzBZMBAqgQHHDpq0ADiMAR65jhyleOBHz15uNRQ4EmGlz0P8hVIMYbMlSYO 0piR0yGNhANUlAAYcOCay0wCYgYYVARACT1g9XABECEDAD9ETA0wUKANiQBa4qD80BJAAZoqPAKw CVBg2tVMCPZcRIXjRQFlIbz4ATADGViVAQa06TuCiRUNBgCIoQEFAhhHKf9qqlOnXwIWL44MUsAn QA9BR/yIAMAAhIE3LTlPUSHgwF4tZlZUHdBXdCFEPfpEUZAgiIkQd2oIcgIkRA9xd/A0sGJngZE0 Lb4kkQAHhpW9SOJUtWo8EwcsXpwYjpDgBZEiLAr0qIGohIwaF1TwQwAO0KCCBmUsssSAAVRAgyeo FNBeJgkgksA7nxQCGQFfxNCAGDv0tZ4kqEwi4YQokohAFmgYQZxaxBE3TCAAOw== ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C9C742.26CE40F0 Content-Type: text/css; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/public/reference.nsf/PNpublic.css A:link { FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, = sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none } A:visited { FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, = sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none } A:hover { FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, = sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:active { FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, = sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none } .parttitlereverse { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 17px; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: = sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #3f3f9f } .parttitle { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 17px; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = sans-serif } .chaptitle { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14px; LEFT: 0.25cm; COLOR: black; = FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; POSITION: relative } .chaptitlegreen { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14px; LEFT: 0.25cm; COLOR: green; = FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; POSITION: relative } .subchaptitle { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; LEFT: 0.5cm; COLOR: black; = FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; POSITION: relative } .sectiontitle { FONT-SIZE: 12px; LEFT: 0.75cm; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; = POSITION: relative } .popup { FONT-SIZE: 10px; CURSOR: help; COLOR: #7f141a; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; = TEXT-DECORATION: none } .sstitle { FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 32px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; COLOR: = #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; = LETTER-SPACING: -1px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cc3333 } .sstop { FONT-SIZE: 18px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; COLOR: = #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; = LETTER-SPACING: -1px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cc3333 } .bar { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; COLOR: = #ffffff } .menu { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 2 } .footer { FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, = sans-serif } ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C9C742.26CE40F0--