1522 Bonds

1. On the Importance of Clarity in Documentation:
• “Making any false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim or statement to the United States is a crime and may be prosecuted. Print in ink or type all information.”

2. On Why Handwriting Matters:
• “People in the back office love to see handwriting because it proves that there is somebody with a pen who is 100% available and response-able to handle the business at hand.”

3. On Bond Details:
• “Describe the bonds by issue date and serial number. The issue date is typically the first transaction date on the statement.”

4. On Using Direct Deposit for Payments:
• “The payee must provide a Social Security number or Employer Identification Number, bank routing number, account number, and type of account.”

5. On Certification:
• “For bond values above $1,000, your signature must be notarized. For bond values of $1,000 or less, you can submit a copy of your ID instead.”

6. On Notaries:
• “What is a notary? That is a member of the de jure government of that particular state. They are a judge. It is a judgment.”

7. On Medallion Stamps:
• “A medallion stamp is simply the verification of the signature that you are who you say you are. Banks guarantee your signature up to the amount of what the medallion stamp color is. The gold one covers up to $10 million.”

8. On Attaching Supplemental Information:
• “If you need more space, attach either FS Form 3500 or a list. Make sure everything is clear and concise for the fiscal services to process.”

9. On the Purpose of the Form:
• “The purpose of this form is to request payment for U.S. savings bonds, savings notes, retirement plan bonds, or individual retirement bonds.”

10. On Using Highlighting:
• “I highlight the bond number and payments made on the bond coupon or statement to make it easier for the fiscal services to discern what they need to process.”

11. On Knowing Your Rights:
• “You must understand the terms like ‘bond,’ ‘note,’ and ‘redemption’ in the context of Title 31 of the United States Code.”

12. On Advocacy:
• “You’re going to have to stand on it. If fiscal services call you, you need to answer questions confidently. Reference their codes, laws, and definitions to show you’re competent.”

13. On Thorough Preparation:
• “Use the 1522 form, attach any supplemental forms, and include a letter of instruction if necessary. They must follow it to a T.”

14. On Working Together:
• “Many hands make light work. That’s why we study with multiple sets of eyes on documents—so we can dissolve any hesitancy or confusion.”

15. On Understanding the System:
• “The fiscal service is the securities intermediary responsible for paying you back what the United States owes you.”

16. On Meditating and Focusing:
• “I do a lot of meditating, praying, and asking for answers. This helps me discern the next steps for completing the process.”