POMS Reference

GN 02402: Direct Deposit - Title II and Title XVI

TN 60 (01-15)

This section describes how to code bank data for international direct deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution (FI) in South Korea. 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 direct deposit in South Korea and allows us to route benefit payments through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in South Korea 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 (OEIO) 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-OP39 (International Direct Deposit Signup Form for South Korea) (For the link to the form see GN 02402.366G 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 South Korea has a prefix of 68 at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN).

C. Overview of IDD for South Korea

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 South Korea. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for additional information.

D. Description of South Korea IDD bank data

The data for coding IDD for South Korea comes from banks determined by the FRBKC. The bank data reflected on the MBR consists of up to 26 characters including the country code of “B” for South Korea.

E. Policy for coding South Korea 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 South Korea, you can use ITS.gov or an SSA system (i.e. Modernized Claims System (MCS), Manual Adjustment Credit and Award Data Entry (MACADE), etc.). When using ITS.gov, enter the actual Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication- Business Identifier Code (SWIFT-BIC). Additionally, the beneficiary must be in IDD enrolled status. The bank data posts to the MBR within four business days.

  1. Initial award processing

    When enrolling via an SSA system, use the SWIFT-BIC code of “000000.” You must also obtain the Korean Resident Registration Number for South Korean citizens. 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, 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 enters the initial claim.

  2. Adding or updating bank data using an SSA system

    If you use an SSA system (i.e., Post Entitlement Online System (POS), MACADE, etc.) to add or update bank data to an MBR, do not input the bank account information into ITS.gov as the information transfers to ITS.gov on the next business day. When coding South Korean IDD bank data in an SSA system (i.e. MCS, MACADE) 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 U.S. dollar account in South Korea? If yes, STOP.

    REASON: Beneficiaries in South Korea can only receive IDD payments in South Korean Won accounts.

    If no, go to step 4.

    4

    To derive the nine-digit RTN for South Korea, code as follows:

    • Code the prefix of 68, (the multi-country prefix SSA and FRBKC designated to use for IDD to South Korea).

    • Code “000000” for the SWIFT Code.

    • Code the one-digit check code “6”.

    NOTE: The beneficiary must have this RTN enrolled in ITS.gov, not used on the forward payment instructions.

    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 South Korea, code as follows:

    • Start with a country code of “B” designated for South Korea.

    • Code the Customer Account Number (up to 16 digits in length).

    7

    All IDD payments made for South Korea must include the applicable SWIFT-BIC code. Additionally, remember to obtain the beneficiary’s name, South Korean Resident Registration Number and telephone number for identification purposes.

F. Example of coding South Korea direct deposit

The customer provides us with a signup form for South Korea containing the following information:

  • SWIFT code: 000000

  • Account Number 1234578912345678

  1. Derive the RTN as follows

    • Code the prefix of “68”;

    • Code the SWIFT code “000000”;

    • Code the one-digit check code “6”; and

    • 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 a country code of “B” designated for South Korea; and

    • Code the account number “1234578912345678”.

    The technician obtains the following:

    RTN: 680000006

    Checking

    DAN: B1234578912345678

    The coding in an SSA System reflects:

    DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 680000006

    ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

    DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: B1234578912345678

    CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

    DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

    The MBR reflects the following information:

    RTN-680000006 DAN-B1234578912345678

G. Exhibit of IDD Enrollment Form for South Korea

To view this form, go to SSA-1199–SK