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 in Malta. Social Security Administration 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 Malta direct deposit (IDD) and allows benefit payments to route through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Malta 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, 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 International Direct Deposit Signup Form for Malta (SSA-1199-OP16) (see GN 02402.327G 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 processor bank in Malta will have a prefix of 71 at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN). The first letter of the Depositor Account Number (DAN) field has the letter “J” assigned for Malta.

C. Overview of IDD for Malta

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 Malta. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for additional information.

D. Description of Malta IDD bank data

The data for coding IDD for Malta will come from the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) provided to the beneficiary from his or her FI. The IBAN will be 31 characters (see Section F). Technicians will use the IBAN to derive the RTN and DAN when processing an IDD request.

E. Policy for coding Malta 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 Malta, 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)

• 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 Malta 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 Malta 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 Malta 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 Malta within four business days of the current operational month (COM) cutoff date, use the procedure outlined in the following chart:

F. Examples – coding Malta direct deposit

The customer provides us with a signup form for Malta containing the following information: MT84MALT011000012345MTLCAST001S

NOTE: The first 2 characters of the Malta IBAN are “MT”, 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. The next four characters represent the four-digit bank account number. The next five characters represent the five-digit bank number. The last 18 characters represent the 18-digit account number.

1. Derive the RTN as follows

Code the prefix of 71(SSA designated prefix for IDD).

Code the four-digit bank code “MALT”;

Code the first two digits of the branch code “01”

Code the one-digit check code (i.e., 8) (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 letter “J” for

Code the last digits of the branch code “100”

Code the first 13 digits of the 18-digit account number “0012345MTLCAS”

3. Coding in ITS.gov will reflect:

IBAN: MT84MALT011000012345MTLCAST001S SWIFT: Full code (example: BEPOIT21020)

The technician will obtain the following:

RTN: 71MALT018

Checking

DAN: J1000012345MTLCAS

The coding in an SSA System will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 71MALT018

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: J1000012345MTLCAS

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-71MALT018 DAN- CJ1000012345MTLCAS

G. Exhibit - IDD enrollment form for Malta

To view this form, click on SSA-1199-OP16.