I-3-1-70. Special Notices for Blind Claimants or Recipients

A. Definition—Blind Claimant or Recipient

A blind claimant or recipient is an individual who is applying for or receiving Title II or Title XVI benefits on the basis of blindness. For the purpose of this provision, a blind claimant or recipient includes:

1. legally competent blind adults;

2. legally competent blind children who have attained age 18; and

3. minor blind children who receive direct payment of their Title II or Title XVI benefits.

B. Options

A blind claimant or recipient may elect to receive notices from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in English or Spanish in one of the following ways:

1. telephone call;

2. certified mail; or

3. regular mail service.

C. OAO Procedures—Initial Screening

When an OAO analyst receives a case in which the Hearing Office (HO) has indicated on the transmittal form (HA-5051) that special procedures are necessary or when the analyst identifies it as a case involving a blind claimant, the OAO analyst will indicate on the Blind Claimant/Recipient, Notice Option flag the option the claimant has selected and attach the flag to the case.

D. OAO Procedures—Case Processing

Process these cases in the same manner as the HO staff (see HALLEX I-2-3-50), except as follows:

1. If the claimant elects the certified mail option, route all mail requiring certification to the OAO Branch support staff for certification and release of the correspondence.

2. If the claimant elects the telephone follow-up option, make the follow-up calls. Advise the branch support staff, via the route slip, to return the case to the branch promptly after release of any correspondence because the analyst must attempt the first call within five days of the date of the correspondence.