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Dear Colleague,

We have some good news to share. We recently made the Program Operations Manual System (POMS) GN 00203.011 - Special Interviewing Situations: Limited English Proficiency or Language Assistance Required publicly available. This POMS covers our policy and guidelines for special interviewing situations for individuals with limited English proficiency or when an interpreter is needed.

Below are some of the topics you will find in this policy:

• Procedures for identifying the need for an interpreter.
• List of qualified interpreter sources.
• Procedures for interviewing with the assistance of an interpreter.
• Procedures when the person prefers to provide their own interpreter.
• Procedures when the Social Security Administration (SSA) interviewer is not satisfied with the interpreter provided by the person with limited English proficiency.

As you are aware, SSA provides free interpreter services to customers requesting language assistance to conduct business with us, or when SSA determines the need for an interpreter.

For additional language access resources, visit our Multilanguage webpage. We also offer multi-lingual YouTube videos which provide instructions on How To: Request Service and Information in Other Languages.

Please share this information with your members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties.

Sincerely,

Dr. Susan Camarena
Office of Public Inquiries and Communications Support
OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov