2.6 Summary of Problems 



Only one problem requiring a specific solution was disclosed under the power- 

 of-attorney procedure; i.e., late notices to beneficiaries. It is particu- 

 larly important that the transit time for adverse action notices directed 

 to beneficiaries be minimal, since the time period during which a bene- 

 ficiary may protest the action being taken is based on the date of the let- 

 ter. The findings indicate that delays do occur in receipt of notifications 

 of suspension, termination, or reduction of payments (adverse actions). 



A potential problem was disclosed by the survey of power-of-attorney bene- 

 ficiaries which indicates that VL reside in foreign countries. This factor 

 suggests what may be a current problem (and potentially a more significant 

 future problem) with beneficiaries who have moved to a "barred" or "restricted 

 currency" country without advising SSA. 



It is also suspected that a future problem may exist since beneficiaries 

 presently paid by credit to accounts in financial organizations are an atyp- 

 ical group when compared to the general beneficiary population. The char- 

 acteristics of this group could change significantly if a large number of 

 beneficiaries elected to be paid that way under the direct-deposit procedure. 

 This raises the possibility that with the change in characteristics of the 

 group there may be a corresponding change (decline) in the extent to which 

 the beneficiaries voluntarily report events which may affect their payments. 



Figure 2.6 depicts these problems. 



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