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 Ireland. 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 Ireland direct deposit and allows benefit payments to be routed through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Ireland to the beneficiary's 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 International Operations (OEIO, DIO) for processing (For more information on forwarding IDD information, 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:

  • a blank check,

  • an International Direct Deposit Signup Form for Ireland (SSA-1199-OP13) (see GN 02402.303G 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 FIs in Ireland will have a prefix of 54 at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN).

C. Overview of IDD for Ireland

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

D. Description of Ireland IDD bank data

The data for coding IDD for Ireland will come from the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) provided to the beneficiary from his or her FI. The IBAN will be 22 characters. However, the bank data reflected on the MBR will be 17 characters. Technicians will use the IBAN to derive the RTN and DAN when processing an IDD request.

E. Procedure - coding Ireland routing and account numbers for international direct deposit

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 Ireland, 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 code (only letters)

  • Next 2 characters - location code (letters and digits)

  • 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 Ireland 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 Ireland 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 Ireland 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 Ireland 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 in an FI in Northern Ireland?

If yes, STOP.

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Follow GN 02402.309 to code bank data for an account in an FI in Northern Ireland.

If no, go to step 4.

4

Is the beneficiary's account a U.S. dollar account in Ireland?

If yes, STOP.

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

If no, go to step 5.

5

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

  • Start with 54, the prefix SSA has designated for Ireland IDD.

  • 6-digit Branch Sorting Code number. If the beneficiary gives you only the name and address of the financial institution, look up the code in the latest version of the “Sorting Code Numbers” directory. Do not code the dashes.

  • Code the U.S. check digit. Obtain the U.S. check digit by using the Check Digit Code program on 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.

6

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.

7

To derive the DAN for Ireland code as follows:

  • 8-digit Bank Account Number.

8

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

F. Example - coding Ireland IDD

The customer provides us with a signup form for Ireland containing the following information: IE29AIBK93115212345678

NOTE: The first 2 characters of the Ireland IBAN are “IE”, which represents the International Organizational for Standardization (ISO) country code. The third and fourth characters of the IBAN are the IBAN check digits. The technician should never code the IBAN ISO country code or the check digit to the MBR. Positions 9 through14 represent the bank sort code. The last 8 characters represent the account number.

1. Derive the RTN as follows

Code the prefix of 54 (SSA designated prefix for IDD).

Code the six-digit bank sort code “931152”;

Code the one-digit check code (i.e., 2) (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 eight-digit bank account number: “12345678”

3. Coding in ITS.gov will reflect:

IBAN: IE29AIBK93115212345678 SWIFT: Full code (example: BEPOIT21020)

The technician will obtain the following:

RTN: 549311522

Checking

DAN: 12345678

The coding in an SSA System will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 549311522

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: 12345678

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-549311522 DAN- C12345678

G. Exhibit of IDD enrollment form for Ireland

Select SSA-1199-OP13 below to view in pdf.

 View PDF Version