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I received a letter from a friend who has retired in Odessa, Ukraine and has been living there for about 4 years. All of a sudden he is notified by the SSA that since he is retired and living in Ukraine, he will no longer receive his Social Security retirement check. Apparently the SSA does not approve of Ukraine as being a place where they are willing to send his funds.
Does anyone know anything about this, and if there is an approved (or disapproved) list of countries where a person can retire to and still receive their Social Security benefits?

... in response to Social Security benefits in Ukraine???, posted by europete on Dec 17, 2003

I just happened to have been in a meeting this morning with a representative of the SSA addressing this various topic.

It is true that there are some countries that SSA will not pay benefits for beneficiaries living there.  Cuba and Vietnam were specifically mentioned but the representative did not know specifically about Ukraine.

I found this link that tells you which countries qualify and which don't but does not mention any reason why or why not.

http://www.ssa.gov/deposit/GIS/data/Reports/ALLCTRYWEB.htm

... in response to Re: Social Security benefits in Ukraine?..., posted by AllenB on Dec 18, 2003

Can't they just keep a US bank account and have direct deposit and use an atm in the Ukraine to access their money?

That would seem to solve the problem.  

Robert D.

... in response to Re: Social Security benefits in Ukraine?..., posted by AllenB on Dec 18, 2003

Allen, I looked at the url you posted.  The info there clearly shows that payments are being made to persons living in both Cuba and Ukraine.

What the info shows is that some countries (including Cuba and Ukraine) are not yet capable of receiving International direct deposits.  But it shows people in Ukraine and Cuba having their SS payments direct deposited in a US bank, just as I suggested in my other posts.

... in response to Not true Allen , posted by Albert on Dec 18, 2003

Hi Albert,

I'm sorry to say that I am correct on this although I was not sure at first.  The Treasury Department apparently has directives on what countries American citizen's receive payments in and Ukraine is not one of them.  I agree with you that looking at the chart again it does appear that perhaps there are some payments being made but upon asking this question directly of my SSA contact she said that no payments are made to American citizens residing in Ukraine whether they request direct deposit in a U.S. or any other bank.  Her answer as to the reason why was simply that it is a Treasury Department directive and they answer to congress.  Given this information I would assume these directives are based upon what countries the current administration trusts.

Sorry for the bad news but I do hope it helps.  Russia is a country that is available for SSA payment.

... in response to Not true Allen , posted by Albert on Dec 18, 2003

The documentation on the web site clearly states the case with Cuba and North Korea are Treasury Department directives.  The cases with concerning FSU countries INCLUDING Ukraine, but EXCLUDING Russia are SSA policy.  This has absolutely nothing to do with the countries capability of processing direct deposit.  As a matter of fact, it states that if you provide false documentation you could be imprisoned or lose your social security.  Read the web site I provided, but more than just paragraph 5.

... in response to Your OPINION, not FACT, posted by John F on Dec 19, 2003

John, you are responding to the wrong message here.

My post here was in response to Allen's post.  Go to the url that he posted and you will see that the SSA shows that they are actually direct depositing money (in US bank accounts) for people who live in Ukraine and Cuba.  This is not my opinion.  It is a fact provided by the SSA website.

... in response to No, it is not my opion, posted by Albert on Dec 19, 2003

Albert, you are looking at a chart and forming an opinion based solely upon data in that chart, not the wording in their written policy.  Unless you notify SSA and specifically point out the incidence in the chart and discover the circumstance involving it/them you can't advise others that your opinion is indeed fact.  Exceptions do appear in charts but they don't apply to everyone.  The person receiving that payment may be an employee of the US Embassy or the spouse of an embassy employee.  We don't know.

As a previous geneologist I can assure you there are many people who believe they are related to somebody completely outside their family tree because they "assumed".

... in response to Social Security benefits in Ukraine???, posted by europete on Dec 17, 2003

that when he croaks.  His young squeeze will continue to collect.

for years

and years

and years

and years.

... in response to Maybe they're afraid....., posted by ChrisNJ on Dec 18, 2003

ChrisNJ ...
could you clarify your reply?..or qualify it..
Do you mean married folks or what?

Karl

... in response to Social Security benefits in Ukraine???, posted by europete on Dec 17, 2003

why should they care? that's the most ludicrous excuse i have heard, but then we are dealing with a bunch bureaucrats. afterall, the only people not expected to be patriotic are gov. officials. the best thing to do is keep an address here and have a friend send the check or money his way.

... in response to Social Security benefits in Ukraine???, posted by europete on Dec 17, 2003

I just looked on the SSA site.  Check out PART 5 (scroll down about midway).

http://www.ssa.gov/international/your_ss.html#countries

... in response to Your friend is right !!!!, posted by John F on Dec 17, 2003

I'm really wondering about my wife's entitlements on that one...should something happen to me and she decides to go back to Ukraine (for some reason).

... in response to Thanks for that page..filed it, posted by tfcrew on Dec 18, 2003

n/t

... in response to Your friend is right !!!!, posted by John F on Dec 17, 2003

John, the heading on this part 5 reads as follows:

Part 5 -- Countries To Which We Cannot Send Payments

So this is not saying that they will stop payments to you.  It just says they will not send the payments to these countries.

A bank account in USA for direct deposit should solve the problem.

But I admit that the wording within the paragraph leaves a lot to be interpreted.

... in response to Re: Your friend is right !!!!, posted by Albert on Dec 18, 2003

Check out my other post regarding this topic.  The table on the SSA site shows no direct deposit available for Ukraine or U.S. bank accounts if your residences is Ukraine.

... in response to Re: Re: Your friend is right !!!!, posted by AllenB on Dec 18, 2003

Allen, the site does not show as you suggest regarding direct deposit into US bank accounts for persons living in Ukraine.

... in response to Social Security benefits in Ukraine???, posted by europete on Dec 17, 2003

I cannot believe this as you have written it.

Most likely the letter said they would not send money for him to a Ukrainian bank or perhaps to a Ukrainian address.  This is all for reasons of fraud and safety.  This is much different than saying they will cut off his SSA payments.

The simple, and much better practice anyway, is for your friend to set up a bank account in USA for the direct deposit of his SSA and other such checks.  Then he can simply use his debit card to withdraw funds from ATMs anywhere in the world; plus do wire transfers, etc.

... in response to Re: Social Security benefits in Ukraine?..., posted by Albert on Dec 17, 2003

My retirement age is 67, per :

http://www.ssa.gov/international/your_ss.html#workoutside

But thank god I'll start getting my navy retirement check at 60.  Whew!

Well, gotta go outside and work on the big ole greenhouse.