U.S. SSA and Veterans Benefits in Vietnam Update

Good_Man wrote:

As an FYI, after many months of working with FBU Manila I finally received most (5/6 months)  of my SSA benefit via direct deposit into my VND account.

The obvious information like matching the name on my passport and my VND account,  SWIFT CODE, and account number were handled with the DD form, but one critical piece of information not on the form was the CITAD number associated with my bank. I found my bank's CITAD number online and it worked.

So now SSA recipients can definitely receive SSA benefits direct deposited into a VND account.

Good luck

Mark

I wonder if you or Rick/Budman can tell us if your receiving bank in VN charged you anything for crediting the deposit to your account?

Also, could you tell us the name of your bank? Since Manilla can't give us a list of banks that accept the payments, hopefully we will eventually be able to put together our own list based on anecdotal experience.

Good_Man wrote:

There was no visible deduction from my bank. I got an exchange rate of 22,920 VND / USD which is pretty close to the current forex rate.

I use BIDV, but I also hear Vietcombank also works well with international wire transfers and accepts pension direct deposits.

In all cases,  make sure you include the CITAD number because it's required but wasn't requested on the SSA direct deposit form.

I'm thinking you may have been unlucky and hit one of the dips in the exchange rate.

Most of this year the rate has been fairly steady at about 23,200 per dollar.

The high was at 23,445 in May.

One of the lowest point dips was about  22,815 on the 24th of August:

One year chart:



With luck like that you might have good luck shooting from the don't in craps...



Maybe Rick Budman can let us know how he's been averaging over a year?

Good_Man wrote:

Hey OB92107

The exchange rate is what it is. I can't fight it and I can't change so I just go with it. I'm not going to worry about it and just live within my means. I just have to worry about food, utilities and travel since my house is paid for. This is what retirement is all about. No worries and just doing my own thing.

Great attitude GoodMan.

The reason I brought it up is because most people I've talked with are worried that they won't get the true exchange rate when the direct deposit is turned into Vietnam Dong midway in the electronic transfer.

So my point for the thread is that your otherwise low rate quoted probably was the true FX rate at the time your direct deposit ended up being processed.

Cheers!

def1412 wrote:

Do you visit the embassy site to get the newsletter or can you subscribe for an emailing.....wondering if I missed a link or something.
Ken

I think the link is part of the very last item on page 16 of the newsletter.  It is https://step.state.gov/step/  Please correct me if I am wrong OB but it looks like if you sign up, you get the newsletter.

THIGV wrote:

def1412 wrote:

Do you visit the embassy site to get the newsletter or can you subscribe for an emailing.....wondering if I missed a link or something.
Ken

I think the link is part of the very last item on page 16 of the newsletter.  It is https://step.state.gov/step/  Please correct me if I am wrong OB but it looks like if you sign up, you get the newsletter.

You are correct.

The other option is to visit the Embassy website every month and look for the American Citizen Services (ACS) newsletter.

Unfortunately, the posting day is irregular from month to month.

For me it's been most convenient to subscribe through STEP and get the direct download link through email.

dbrutter wrote:

Now my only question is if I'll get $2400 sinse we are married filling jointly. My vietnamese wife does have a tax number. I forget the 'offical' name for the number. Its not a SSN but it works like one for tax purposes.

You wife likely has an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.)  These are used for people like your wife as well as individuals who earn non-wage or investment income in the US.  Presently one must have a Social Security number to receive the funds so my guess is that your check will be $1200.

stevenjb2020 wrote:

US Fed Stimulus payout

According to the US Dept of Treasury website:

PRESS RELEASES
Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm967

Great post Steven!

Thanks!

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

From the US Social Security Administration:

As enticing as that banner is, it is important to note that even if you log on to the SSA website now, you won't get your new amount.  They say they won't post it for you specifically until some time in December.  To keep it simple, just multiply your current benefit (before deductions) by 5.9%.  Keep in mind though that, as someone posted in another thread, an increase in Medicare premiums could eat up a lot of the raise.

THIGV wrote:

Diazo:  You must have a miserable life being one who can't take a joke.

Perhaps in response to miserable humor?

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

Maybe because your jokes are miserable?

Now that is criticism that I am willing to accept.   

THIGV wrote:

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

From the US Social Security Administration:

Keep in mind though that, as someone posted in another thread, an increase in Medicare premiums could eat up a lot of the raise.

I hope that anyone counting of using Medicare anywhere other than IN the USA understands it is ONLY usable in the USA.

Travelfar wrote:

I hope that anyone counting of using Medicare anywhere other than IN the USA understands it is ONLY usable in the USA.

This is absolutely correct.   However if you signed up for Medicare B  before moving overseas, you are stuck with the payments.   Once you start the only way to stop the payments is to die.     If you are overseas when you reach Medicare age, you can delay signing up for the add-ons until and if you return to the US.  There is 10% added to the premiums for each year you delay so it's up to you to calculate what to do.

THIGV wrote:

Travelfar wrote:

I hope that anyone counting of using Medicare anywhere other than IN the USA understands it is ONLY usable in the USA.

This is absolutely correct.   However if you signed up for Medicare B  before moving overseas, you are stuck with the payments.   Once you start the only way to stop the payments is to die.     If you are overseas when you reach Medicare age, you can delay signing up for the add-ons until and if you return to the US.  There is 10% added to the premiums for each year you delay so it's up to you to calculate what to do.

This is absolutely not true on many front. No matter when you signed up for Medicare Part B you can cancel it. Secondly, it is not true that the only place you can use it is in the USA. It is true you can not use it in Vietnam, but just one example of a country you can use it is the PHP. Anyone getting close to pension age or now drawing SS benefits should really check with the SSA to get the facts. But, if you have a DOD pension and TRICARE if you cancel of decline Part B you will lose your TRICARE. Not a big deal if you live in a country where healthcare is cheap and you have sufficient ability to self pay. Now let the English critics have a field day! If you can not get the gist  of what I said PM me and I will try to clear up the poor English.

THIGV wrote:

Travelfar wrote:

I hope that anyone counting of using Medicare anywhere other than IN the USA understands it is ONLY usable in the USA.

This is absolutely correct.   However if you signed up for Medicare B  before moving overseas, you are stuck with the payments.   Once you start the only way to stop the payments is to die.     If you are overseas when you reach Medicare age, you can delay signing up for the add-ons until and if you return to the US.  There is 10% added to the premiums for each year you delay so it's up to you to calculate what to do.

I took early Social Security at age 62, fully cognizant of the differences between that and waiting for full retirement age.

However, I was ignorant and thus surprised when the Medicare Part B deductions started at age 65.

I called the Social Security Administration from Vietnam (Toll free via Skype) to see if anything could be done.

The representative told me that since I am rated 100% by the Veterans Administration and I receive full Healthcare benefits there, I could opt out of part B, so I did.

I'm also covered by the VA's Foreign Medical Program for the treatment of service-connected issues, but not unrelated emergency care, so I paid for my E.R. visits in Vietnam out of pocket.

I think the highest bill I paid for any of my few visits was about ₫2,500,000 VNĐ

It's correct that if I ever decide I want to opt back into part B, I will be paying that 10% premium penalty.

@OceanBeach92107

Hi, i reside in Vietnam. My bank is Sacombank. Ihave updated bank info by providing Swift code to SSA in Manila, but the benefits payment was still rejected somehow ( in Dec 2022 after I updated bank info ) due to incorrect bank info (???) . I had to call SSA in Guam to find out about this. SSA Guam said Ssa Manila sent me notice via paper mail, which I never received. Pls give me your thought. My email is

********

@OceanBeach92107
Hi, i reside in Vietnam. My bank is Sacombank. Ihave updated bank info by providing Swift code to SSA in Manila, but the benefits payment was still rejected somehow ( in Dec 2022 after I updated bank info ) due to incorrect bank info (???) . I had to call SSA in Guam to find out about this. SSA Guam said Ssa Manila sent me notice via paper mail, which I never received. Pls give me your thought. My email is
[link under review] .
-@Tom Celica

Not sure what to tell you Tom, and for the benefit of all I respond to general inquiries only here in the forum.

I don't generally get involved with individual consultations by email or even by private message.

Especially on this subject since my knowledge is limited to whatever I have posted in this thread.

I don't have a clue why you had to go through Guam, but I can ask you more questions.

I recently sent inquiries to the office in Manila and I got appropriate replies within a normal time period.

So I really can't tell whether you are 1. having a genuine problem with the system or 2. if maybe you are being impatient or 3. maybe you simply provided the wrong address in Vietnam or 4. maybe the piece of mail actually is in the system in Vietnam but because your phone number doesn't show up on the outside of the piece of mail, the delivery person may be hesitant to attempt delivery (that's a very common problem with mail in Vietnam).

I'm guessing that the piece of mail may have either a reason why your bank info was rejected or it may have a temporary password that you need in order to talk with them further so they can confirm that you received the mail at your residence.

I also don't know if you used the official form to make a change, and whether or not you provided all the correct information (see Rick's earlier comments about necessary code(s) in addition to the Swift code).

I also don't know if Sacombank is an authorized bank.

The earlier reports suggested that every bank would not be eligible, so you may want to look into having a different bank, making sure it's one that at least one other person can confirm they are receiving their direct deposit through.

Rick has confirmed that Agribank (which was the first bank eligible) is indeed receiving his payments successfully.

Finally, you say you "reside in Vietnam.

Can you be more specific about that? Are you living here on an official TRC or are you doing tourist visa runs every month?

I'm not trying to get into your personal business but these types of things help all of us understand the ins and outs of this process and provide meaningful answers.