POMS Reference

GN 02402: Direct Deposit - Title II and Title XVI

TN 65 (09-15)

This section describes how to code bank data for international direct deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution (FI) in Cape Verde. The 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 Cape Verde direct deposit and allows us to route benefit payments through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Cape Verde 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 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. 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 SSA-1199-OP41 (International Direct Deposit Signup Form for Cape Verde) (For the link to the form see GN 02402.371G 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 for Cape Verde has a prefix of 71 at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN).

C. Overview of IDD for Cape Verde

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 Cape Verde. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for additional information.

D. Description of Cape Verde IDD bank data

The data for coding IDD for Cape Verde comes from banks determined by the FRBKC. The bank data on the MBR will reflect up to 27 including the alpha country code of O for Cape Verde.

E. Policy for coding Cape Verde 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 Cape Verde, 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 Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication- Business Identifier Code (SWIFT-BIC), the beneficiary’s name, and beneficiary’s address. Do not code the RTN in ITS.gov, as ITS.gov will propagate this information. 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 should consist of 11 alphanumeric characters:

  • First four characters - bank code (only letters);

  • Next two characters - ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (only letters);

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

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

1. Initial award processing

Secure the beneficiary’s name, address, and full SWIFT-BIC code at the time of filing. If you are working on an initial award, you must update ITS.gov using the bank account information prior to processing the award to ensure that the beneficiary receives his or her payment. If the complete bank account information is not in ITS.gov when the payment processes, the payment rejects and returns to SSA.

NOTE: If there is dire need or hardship involved, tell 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 the initial claim.

2. Adding or updating bank data using SSA systems

You must update ITS.gov on the same day if you use an SSA system to add or update bank data on the MBR (i.e., Post Entitlement Online System (POS), MACADE). Enter all POS direct deposit changes according to normal procedures. When coding IDD bank data in an SSA system for Cape Verde 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 does not accept the IDD information unless the address is in a foreign country.

If yes, go to step 3.

3

Is the beneficiary's account a USD account in Cape Verde? If no, STOP.

REASON: Beneficiaries in Cape Verde can only receive IDD payments in USD accounts.

If yes, go to step 4

4

The RTN is 710000028 for all IDD to Cape Verde. SSA and FRBKC have designated 71 as the multi-country prefix for Cape Verde IDD. The 8 in the RTN represents the U.S. check digit code for all IDD accounts in Cape Verde. Therefore, there is no need to obtain the check digit code from Title II Interactive Comps.

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

Code the Depositor Account Number (DAN) for Cape Verde as follows:

  • Start with an alpha country code of “O” designated for Cape Verde

  • Code the Customer Account Number (up to 16 characters)

7

You must enter the full SWIFT-BIC code, the recipient’s name, and address into ITS.gov on the same business day. Do not code the RTN intoITS.gov , as ITS.gov will propagate this information.

If you do not have access to ITS.gov, ask a co-worker who has access to enter the required information into ITS.gov FRBKC will need all of this information in order to process the IDD payment. When this information is not available, FRBKC will reject the payment and return it to SSA.

F. Example of coding Cape Verde direct deposit

The customer provides us with a signup form for Cape Verde containing the following information:

Account Number 1234567890123456

  1. Derive the RTN as follows

    • Code an RTN of 710000028

    • 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

    • Start with an alpha country code of “O” designated for Cape Verde;

    • Code the 16-digits of the Account Number “1234567890123456”.

The technician obtains the following:

RTN: 710000028

Checking

DAN: O1234567890123456

The coding in an SSA System reflects:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 710000028

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: O1234567890123456

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR reflects the following information:

RTN- 710000028 DAN- CO1234567890123456

G. Exhibit of form SSA-1199 IDD Enrollment Form for Cape Verde

To view this form go to SSA-1199–OP41