(a) Upon receipt of information concerning the possibility that an annuitant has disappeared, the Associate Director will conduct such inquiry as he or she determines to be necessary to determine whether the annuitant is alive and whether the annuitant's whereabouts can be determined.

(b) If during an inquiry under paragraph (a) of this section, or upon subsequent receipt of additional information, the Associate Director finds substantial evidence (as defined in §1201.56(c)(1) of this title) to believe that an annuitant is either not alive or that the annuitant's whereabouts cannot be determined, the annuitant acquires the status of missing annuitant. The Associate Director will then—

(1) Suspend payments to the missing annuitant; and

(2) Notify individuals who may be able to qualify for payments under §880.302 that—

(i) OPM has suspended the annuity payments to the missing annuitant;

(ii) Payment may be made under §880.302, including the amount available for payment, how that amount was determined, and the documentation required (if any) to qualify for such payments; and

(iii) In response to an inquiry from any person seeking CSRS, FERS, FEHBP, or FEGLI benefits, OPM will provide information about documentation necessary to establish a claim for such benefits.