Effective Dates: 02/13/2018 - Present Previous | Next

TN 126 (02-19)

GN 02402.349 Coding Luxembourg Bank Data on 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 Luxembourg. 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 Luxembourg direct deposit and allows us to route benefit payments through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Luxembourg 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. Where to obtain 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 Luxembourg (SSA-1199-OP29) (see GN 02402.349G 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 in Luxembourg will have a prefix of 66 at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN). The first letter of the Depositor Account Number (DAN) field has the letter “M” assigned for Luxembourg.

C. Overview of IDD for Luxembourg

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

D. Description of Luxembourg IDD bank data

The data for coding IDD for Luxembourg will come from the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) provided to the beneficiary from his or her FI. The IBAN for Luxembourg consists of up to 20 characters. However, the bank data reflected on the MBR will consist of 23 characters. Technicians will use the IBAN to derive the RTN and DAN when processing an IDD request.

E. Policy for coding Luxembourg 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 Luxembourg, 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)

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    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 Luxembourg 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 Luxembourg IDD into ITS.govand 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 Luxembourg 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 Luxembourg 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 will not accept the International Direct Deposit (IDD) information.

If yes, go to step 3.

3

Is the beneficiary's account a U.S. Dollar account at an FI in Luxembourg? If yes, STOP.

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

If no, go to step 4.

4

To derive the nine-digit RTN for Luxembourg:

  • •

    Start with 66 (the multi-country prefix SSA and FRBKC designated to use for IDD to Luxembourg),

  • •

    Code three filler zeros “000,”

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    Code the three-digit bank code,

  • •

    Code the check digit code, 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

To code the DAN for Luxembourg:

  • •

    Start with a country code of “M” designated for Luxembourg, and

  • •

    Code the 13-digit account number,

NOTE: SSA sends IDD payments for Luxembourg in Euros to local FI accounts.

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. MACADE, MCS) on the same day.

F. Example of coding Luxembourg IDD

The customer provides us with the IBAN LU360029152460050000

NOTE: The first two characters of a Luxembourg IBAN are “LU,” which represent the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) country code (never coded to the MBR). 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 code to the MBR. The next three characters of the IBAN represent the three-digit bank code. The next 13 characters of the IBAN represent the 13-digit account number.

1. Derive the RTN as follows

  • •

    Code the prefix of 66 (the multi-country prefix for Luxembourg).

  • •

    Code three filler zeros “000”.

  • •

    Code the three-digit bank code “002”.

  • •

    Code the one-digit check code (i.e., 8).

  • •

    Code the type of account as a “C” for checking or an “S” for savings. If no indication of account type, use a “C” for checking.

2. Derive the DAN as follows

  • •

    Use the letter “M” (for Luxembourg); and

  • •

    The 13-digit account number “9152460050000”.

3. Coding in ITS.gov will reflect:

IBAN: LU360029152460050000 SWIFT: Full code (example: BEPOIT21020)

The coder will obtain the following:

RTN: 660000028

Checking

DAN: M9152460050000

The coding in an SSA System will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 660000028

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: M9152460050000

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-660000028 DAN- CM9152460050000

NOTE: The C in the DAN means that the account is a checking account

G. Exhibit of form SSA-1199-OP29

To view this form click on: SSA-1199-OP29.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402349
GN 02402.349 - Coding Luxembourg Bank Data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) - 02/13/2018
Batch run: 07/09/2019
Rev:02/13/2018