The following program policy instructions were updated on 09/21/2026.
Program Operations Manual System
SI 02004 TN 18 - Direct Field Office PaymentsSummary: The agency may issue an Emergency Advance Payment (EAP) or Immediate Payment (IP) to recipients and beneficiaries who demonstrate a dire need and meet other criteria. In the past, we issued these payments via paper check. Effective March 2025, Executive Order (EO) 14247 Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account and EO 14249 Protecting America's Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse require the Department of Treasury to issue all federal payments electronically. In compliance with the EOs, the agency began issuing EAPs and IPs via a United States Debit Card (USDC), effective February 9, 2026. This transmittal incorporates Finance and Management Policy's implementation of the USDC. The transmittal also clarifies and combines existing EAP and IP policies and procedures.RS 02801 TN 21 - Critical CasesSummary: The agency may issue an immediate payment (IP) to beneficiaries who demonstrate a dire need and meet other criteria, including the critical case criteria. In the past, we issued these payments via paper check. Effective March 2025, Executive Order (EO)14247 Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account and EO 14249 Protecting America's Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse require the Department of Treasury to issue all federal payments electronically. In compliance with the EOs, the agency began issuing IPs via a United States Debit Card (USDC), effective 02/09/2026. This transmittal incorporates Financial and Management's implementation of the USDC. This transmittal also clarifies existing critical case and IP policies and procedures.
