Effective Dates: 02/12/2018 - Present Previous | Next

TN 59 (11-14)

GN 02402.302 Coding Germany Bank Data for the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR)

This section describes how to code bank data for international direct deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution (FI) in Germany. Social Security Administration (SSA) stores IDD bank data on the MBR in the same fields as are used for United States (U.S.) direct deposit. Special coding identifies the data as Germany International Direct Deposit (IDD) and allows benefit payments to route through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Germany 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:

  • •

    an International Direct Deposit Signup Form for German (SSA-1199-GE), 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 for Germany will have a prefix of 52 at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN).

C. Overview of IDD for Germany

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

D. Description – Germany bank data

The data for coding IDD for Germany will come from the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) provided to the beneficiary from his or her FI. The IBAN will be 22 characters. However, the bank data reflected on the MBR will consist of 21 characters. Technicians will use the IBAN to derive the RTN and DAN when processing an IDD request.

E. Policy for coding German 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 Germany, 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, DE for Germany).

  • •

    Next 2 characters - location code (letters and digits)

  • •

    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 Germany 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 German 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 Germany 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 Germany 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 yes, go to step 3.

If no, STOP.

REASON: The MBR will not accept the International Direct Deposit (IDD) information unless the address is in a foreign country.

3

Is the beneficiary's account a U.S. dollar account in Germany?

If yes, STOP.

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

If no, go to step 4.

4

Code the RTN (9 digits total) as follows:

  • •

    Start with 52, the prefix SSA has designated for German IDD.

  • •

    Code the first 6 digits of the 8-digit Bank Code (Bankleitzahl).

  • •

    Code the U.S check digit, 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 as an “S” for savings or a “C” for checking. If no indicated account type, use a “C” for checking account.

6

Code the DAN as follows:

  • •

    Start with the last 2 digits of the 8-digit bank code Bankleitzahl.

  • •

    Add the Account Number. Be sure the Depositor Account number contains 12 digits total. Do not code any alpha characters for German IDD.

REASON: An alpha character in any German payment record will cause the whole file to reject at the processor bank. The result will be delayed payments for thousands of beneficiaries.

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 (i.e. MCS, MACADE, etc.) on the same day. Another technician is required to verify the entry on ITS.gov on the same day for the system to accept the input.

F. Example - coding Germany IDD

The customer provides us with a signup form for Germany containing the following information: DE89370400440532013000

NOTE: The first 2 characters of the German IBAN are “DE,” the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) country code. The third and fourth characters of the IBAN are the IBAN check digits. The technicians should never code the IBAN country code or check digit to the MBR. The next 8 characters represent the 8-digit bank identifier. The next 10 characters of the IBAN represent the 10-digit account number.

1. Derive the RTN as follows

Code the prefix of 52 (SSA designated prefix for IDD).

Code the first six digits of the eight-digit bank code “370400”;

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 last two-digits of the eight-digit bank code “44”

Code the 10-digit account number “0532013000”

3. Coding in ITS.gov will reflect:

IBAN: DE89370400440532013000 SWIFT/BIC: Full code (ex. GENODE51WW1)

The technician will obtain the following:

RTN: 523704008

Checking C

DAN: 440532013000

The coding in an SSA System will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 523704008

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: 440532013000

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN- 5263704008 DAN- C440532013000

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402302
GN 02402.302 - Coding Germany Bank Data for the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) - 02/12/2018
Batch run: 07/09/2019
Rev:02/12/2018