POMS Reference

GN 02402: Direct Deposit - Title II and Title XVI

TN 104 (05-18)

This section describes how to code bank data for international direct deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution in Estonia. 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 Estonia direct deposit (IDD) and allows benefit payments to route through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Estonia to the beneficiary's financial institution (FI).

NOTE: U.S. domestic (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 Office of Earnings and International Operations, Division of International Operations (OEIO, DIO) for processing (For more information on forwarding IDD information, see GN 02402.205C, GN 01010.255, and GN 01702.310C).

A. Where to obtain bank data

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

  • a blank check,

  • an SSA-1199-ES direct deposit signup form for Estonia (to view the exhibit of form SSA-1199-ES, see GN 02402.345G in this section), or

  • any documents that contain 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 Estonia will have a prefix of “66” at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN). The first letter of the Depositor Account Number (DAN) field has the letter “F” assigned for Estonia.

C. Overview of IDD for Estonia

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

D. Description of Estonia IDD bank data

The data for coding IDD for Estonia will come from the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) provided to the beneficiary from his or her FI. The IBAN will be 20 characters. However, the IDD bank data reflected on the MBR will consist of 22 characters. Technicians will use the IBAN to derive the RTN and DAN when processing an IDD request.

E. Policy for coding Estonia 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 Estonia, 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) (passive participant will have "1" in the second character); and

  • 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 Estonia require input into ITS.gov and an SSA system (MCS, MACADE) on the same day. You must complete all initial claims that the International Benefits Office (IBO) takes. You must input all initial claims involving Estonia IDD into ITS.gov and an SSA system (MCS, MACADE) 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 Estonia require input into ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. Post Entitlement Online System (POS), MACADE) on the same day. Enter all POS direct deposit changes according to normal procedures. When coding IDD bank data in an SSA system for Estonia 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.

  • If yes, go to step 3.

3

Is the beneficiary's account a U.S. Dollar account at an FI in Estonia?

  • If yes, STOP.

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

  • If no, go to step 4.

4

To derive the RTN (a total of nine digits ) for Estonia:

  • Start with 66 (the multi-country prefix SSA and FRBKC have designated to use for Estonia IDD),

  • Code the two-digit bank code,

  • Code the two-digit branch code,

  • Code two filler zeros “00,” and

  • Code the check digit value of the RTN, which you will 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 with a “C” for Checking Account, the default account type for Estonia.

6

To begin coding the DAN field:

  • Start with “F”, the letter assigned to show that the FI is in Estonia; and

  • Code the 12-digit account number.

NOTE: SSA sends IDD payments for Estonia in Euros to local FI accounts.

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 (MACADE, MCS) on the same day.

F. Example of coding Estonia IDD

The customer provides us with a signup form for Estonia containing the following information: EE382200221020145685

NOTE: The first 2 characters of the IBAN are “EE”, 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 code or the check digit to the MBR. The next two characters of the IBAN represent the two-digit bank code. The next two digits represent the branch code. The last 12 characters represent the account number.

1. Derive the RTN

Enter the information for the RTN:

  • Code the prefix of 66 

  • Code the two-digit bank code, “22”

  • Code the two-digit branch code, “00”

  • Code a two filler of zeros; “00”

  • Code the one-digit check code (i.e., 7) (obtained from Title II Interactive Comps from Main Menu 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

Code the DAN for Estonia:

  • Use the letter “F” (for Estonia); and

  • The 12-digit account number “221020145685”.

3. Coding in ITS.gov

The code will reflect:

IBAN: EE382200221020145685 SWIFT: Full code (example: EKRDEE22)

The technician will obtain the following:

RTN: 662200002

Checking

DAN: F221020145685

The coding in an SSA System will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 662200002

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: F221020145685

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-662200002 DAN-CF221020145685

G. Exhibit of IDD enrollment form for Estonia (SSA-1199-ES)

Select the SSA-1199-ES link to view in pdf.

SSA-1199ES