POMS Reference

GN 02402: Direct Deposit - Title II and Title XVI

TN 59 (11-14)

This section describes how to code bank data for international direct deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution (FI) in France. Social Security Administration (SSA) stores IDD bank data on the MBR in the same fields used for United States (U.S.) direct deposit. Special coding identifies the data as a French direct deposit and allows us to route benefit payments through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in France to the beneficiary's local FI.

NOTE: U.S. domestic (i.e., non-border) field offices (FOs) should not attempt to process an IDD request for this country. U.S. domestic FOs must forward all appropriate information to the Office of Earnings and International Operations, Division of Interational Operations (OEIO, DIO) for processing (For more information on forwarding IDD information, see GN 02402.205C, GN 01010.255, and GN 01702.310C.

A. How we receive IDD bank data

We receive requests to input bank data by mail, phone, or fax in the following formats:

  • French Bank RIB-Relevé d’Identité Bancaire

  • an International Direct Deposit Signup Form for France (SSA-1199-FR) (see GN 02402.301G in this section), or

  • any document that contains the required banking information.

NOTE: If upon receipt of the information, there are any discrepancies, follow instructions in GN 00203.020 and GN 02402.025.

B. Multi-country contract

The processing FI in France will have a prefix of 56 at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN).

C. Overview of IDD for France

The beneficiary must provide complete information to the DIO or the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for input. DIO will fax incomplete forms to the (FBU) that serves France. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for additional information.

D. Description of French IDD bank data

The data for coding IDD for France will come from the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) provided to the beneficiary from his or her FI. The IBAN will be 27 characters. However, the bank data reflected on the MBR will consist of 24 characters. Technicians will use the IBAN to derive the RTN and DAN when processing an IDD request.

E. Policy for coding French IDD bank data

The FRBKC relies on SSA to provide the complete bank data to ensure correct posting of payments to a customer’s account. If the information is incomplete, the FRBKC rejects the payment and returns the funds to SSA. When establishing or changing IDD bank data for France, you can use an SSA system (i.e. Modernized Claims System (MCS), Manual Adjustment Credit and Award Data Entry (MACADE), etc.). However, you must go to ITS.gov to enter the full IBAN and Society for Worldwide Internet Financial Telecommunication-Business Identifier Code (SWIFT-BIC). If the complete bank account information is not in ITS.gov when the payment processes, the payment rejects and returns to SSA. When using ITS.gov, bank data posts to the MBR within four business days.

The SWIFT code consists of 8 to 11 alphanumeric characters. When an 8-digit code is given, it refers to the primary office:

  • First 4 characters - bank code (only letters)

  • Next 2 characters - ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country /area code (only letters)

  • Next 2 characters - location code (letters and digits) (passive participant will have "1" in the second character)

  • Last 3 characters - branch code, optional ('XXX' for primary office) (letters and digits)

1. Initial award processing of IDD

Secure IBAN and SWIFT-BIC coding from the beneficiary at the time of filing. The FBU inputs an initial IDD claim if the beneficiary elects the option of direct deposit. All initial IDD claims that an FBU takes for France require input into ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. MCS, MACADE, etc.) on the same day. You must complete all initial claims that the International Benefits Office (IBO) takes. You must input all initial claims involving French IDD into ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. MCS, MACADE, etc.) on the same day.

NOTE: If there is dire need or hardship involved, advise the beneficiary of the option of initiating payment via a paper check. Inform the beneficiary that the bank may charge for cashing the check. If the beneficiary chooses the option of paper check, the FBU documents and processes the initial claim.

2. Adding or updating bank data using SSA systems

All changes to direct deposit information for France require input into ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. Post Entitlement Online System (POS), MACADE, etc…) on the same day. Enter all POS direct deposit changes according to normal procedures. When coding IDD bank data in an SSA system for France within four business days of the current operational month (COM) cutoff date, use the procedure outlined in the following chart:

STEP

ACTION

1

Are you coding an initial claim?

  • If yes, go to step 3.

  • If no, go to step 2.

2

Is the beneficiary's address on the MBR in a foreign country (PCOC = 8)? If no, STOP.

REASON: The MBR will not accept the International Direct Deposit (IDD) information unless the address is in a foreign country.

If yes, go to step 3.

3

Is the beneficiary's account a U.S. dollar account in France? If yes, STOP.

REASON: Beneficiaries in France can only receive IDD payments in Euro accounts.

If no, go to step 4.

4

To derive the 9-digit RTN for France, code as follows:

  • prefix of 56, (the multi-country prefix SSA and FRBKC designated to use for IDD to France).

  • 5-digit bank code.

  • first digit of the 5-digit the branch code (Code Guichet).

  • 1-digit check code (obtain through Title II Interactive Comps)

NOTE: The final digit is the U.S. check digit code and is subject to change. Obtain check digit code through the Title II Interactive Comps from the Main Menus 07/Sub Menu 16.

5

Code the Type of Account as an “S” for savings or a “C” for checking. If no indicated account type, use a “C” for checking account.

6

To code the DAN for France, code as follows:

  • Last 4 digits of the 5-digit branch code (Code Guichet).

  • 11-digit Customer Account Number.

7

All IDD payments made in Euros must include the applicable IBAN and SWIFT/BIC codes. Technicians must code this information in ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. MACADE, MCS) on the same day.

F. Example - Coding French IDD

The customer provides us with a signup form for French containing the following information: IBAN FR1420041010050500013M02606

NOTE: The first 2 characters of the French IBAN are “FR,” the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) country code. The third and fourth characters of the IBAN are the IBAN check digit. The technicians should never code the IBAN country code or check digit to the MBR. The next five characters of the IBAN represent the five-digit bank code. The next 5 characters represent the 5-digit branch code. The next 11 characters of the IBAN represent the 11-digit account number. The last two digits are the RIB Key (CIRIB) not coded for IDD.

1. Derive the RTN as follows

Code the prefix of 56 (SSA designated prefix for IDD).

Code the five-digit bank code “20041”;

Code the first digit of the branch code “0”

Code the one-digit check code (i.e., 4) (obtained from the Title II interactive Comps from the Main Menus 07/Sub Menu 16);

Code the type of account as a “C” for Checking or an “S” for Savings. If no account type indicated, use a “C” for Checking.

2. Derive the DAN as follows

Code the last four digits of the branch code “1005”

Code the 11-digit account number “0500013M026”

3. Coding in ITS.gov will reflect:

IBAN: FR1420041010050500013M02606 SWIFT: Full code (example: BNPAFRPPNIC)

The technician will obtain the following:

RTN: 562004104

Checking

DAN: 10050500013M026

The coding in an SSA System will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 562004104

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: 10050500013M026

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-562004104 DAN-C10050500013M026

G. Exhibit – of IDD Enrollment Form for France

To view this form, go to SSA-1199-FR.