racyrick

22 hours ago, Pib said:

Does your wife and child have social security numbers?    Anyone without a SSN, say only an ITIN, is not suppose to get stimulus funds.   Even on a joint return anyone on the return not having a SSN would be excluded.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/26/perspectives/stimulus-checks-undocumented-taxpayers/index.html

Hi Pib, fortunately both my wife and son have a social security number.

I have been using them on my taxes for 13 years now.

This is going to be problematic for sure.

I may be in "no man's" land.

I get SSA and I filed my 2018 taxes. I do not have a bank on file with the IRS, but I get my SSA thru Direct Express.

IRS does not use Direct Express for refunds but now they say SSA people will get their stimulus the same way as SSA pays.

I have 2 dependents of my wife and son, so I should get $2,900 total.

Will they use 2018 return and take the SSA info for my payment with Direct Express?

Will they just issue me a check instead of Direct Express?

Will they just give me $1,200 from SSA and I lose my 2 dependents?

Oh the bureaucracy of it all. No man's land for sure!

I did my report last Friday at KK and not bad at all.

As fourpack said above, they do it quickly and do social distancing and hand gel.

In and out in about 10 minutes.

Well it looks like all mail coming or going overseas is basically at a standstill.

Looks like I will never get my stimulus check.

Does anybody know lately how long it has been taking for mail to go to the USA from Thailand and from the USA to Thailand?

Thanks in advance and I wonder if the 2 week travel ban to Thailand will really slow things up.

4 hours ago, Pib said:

 

 

That last part in the video (quoted below) about no checks by mail could definitely be interpreted that way....OR, it could be interpreted as IRS is going to develop the web-based portal for direct deposit info in order to allow a person to receive the payment via direct deposit versus by mail....still can't use the portal because you don't have a bank acct then the payment will be mailed.  

 

I think it's going to be latter because even in this day and age there are people who are "unbanked" and the govt pays them benefits each month like social security, VA, etc.   And they do this either by snail mail check or primarily use of the govt Direct Express debit card--no bank acct required to get this debit card.  The monthly benefit payment goes into the Direct Express debit card and the a person uses an ATM to withdrawal the money....but usage outside the use each ATM use comes with a $3 flat fee plus 3% fee of amount withdrawn along with any ATM use fee like the Thai bank Bt220 fee.    

 

Issue of such cards to make the stimulus payment is also supposedly being evaluated...but even the debit card has to go out via snail mail and then the person activates it.  

 

Will be interesting what the govt "finally" decides to do....exactly how to make payments to people with no direct deposit info/availability.  

 

 

 

I use Direct Express for my SS benefits, but the IRS does not use them for tax refunds.

If you don't have a bank or debit card to give the IRS that has a bank number and routing number, you will get the stimulus by check in the mail only.

Direct Express, as of now, will not give you a routing number or account number to give the IRS even though that have that information as they use Comerica bank.

Sad but true.

Hate to throw cold water on us that are living in Thailand, but I read that the people who receive the checks must be a RESIDENT of the US as determined by the address on file with the IRS, NOT the SSA.

So if you are lucky to still have a US address for your taxes, you are good to go.

No mention of that clause if they send out checks to those receiving SSA payments.

Nothing in stone until they actually pass a bill with the exact requirements.

It would very nice and helpful if the government would let us know what cities they have confirmed cases of the virus.

I would like to know how many have been confirmed where I live.

I think this will help us a lot.

I know, just dreaming!!!

TRUE Cable has the NFL network and shows all the playoff games.

They do not show the Super Bowl.

Finally got my letter today. Thank goodness!!!

I still have not gotten my letter and now fear I may have to go thru the nightmare of requesting a copy to be sent.

Did anyone who lives in Khon Kaen get their letter?

20 minutes ago, GalaxyMan said:

My US residence is in Florida. I don't live there and haven't been there in years, but it's my 'legal' US residence.

Thanks for your reply. That explains why you got your letter so early.

It looks like people here in Thailand are just now starting to get the letter.

22 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

Got mine a couple of weeks ago. You can find out what your increase is on the MySSA webpage, https://secure.ssa.gov/mySSA/start

What city do you live in?

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

 

That is good if you can register for myssa. Been living out of the states for to many years so my US address cannot be verified.

I want the one that comes in the mail that is an obvious original that I can show for my extension of stay next year as proof of the source of my income. Same for the statement for this year that will arrive next month.

Exactly. I am in the same situation and immigration would only accept this letter as proof of overseas income.

I see you just got your COLA letter. You live in Isaan, correct?

I live there also but did not get mine yet. Hopefully in the next day or two but with the holidays, not really expecting it.

Has anyone received their SS COLA Adjustment letter with the new payments starting the first of January?

2 hours ago, kingofthemountain said:

I don't judge you

i have been on a similar path some years ago

 

My post was just a joke, we rarely move from a touristic city to nakhonowhere

if there is no a girl or a woman (Grilfriend or wife) behind the project

no offense with it

 

On a more serious part just think about it

we have only one life, and if you spend your time doing something or living somewhere

you don't like, in a way you are wasting a part of your time. And soon or later you are going to regret

it and you will feel remorse. 

Don't force you to do something you don't really want to do,or to live where you 

don't want to live.

You can be pretty sure nobody will do the same thing for you if the roles was inversed.

 

just move where you want to be and enjoy your life as you want to live it

sometimes you need to be selfish and think to you first

 

It was my 2 cents

of course up to you

anyway good luck

I appreciate your honesty and reply. No offense taken.

Unfortunately, it was a financial decision and a something I also had to do so my son could go to a Thai English program school-for what it's worth.

22 hours ago, kingofthemountain said:

Circumstances isn't a very common name for a girl

Not quite. I am 66 years old, married to my Thai wife who is 55 years old and we have a 14 year old son together. We have been married for 15 years.

I know this is Thailand, but please don't judge.

20 hours ago, Ireland32 said:

Well did you enjoy ur move to Isaan

Not really, but had no choice.

Circumstances dictated my move.

10 minutes ago, Phuket Mafia said:

That’s got a nice ring to it. ????

 

I think I’ll give it a try. Air Asia has non stop one way tickets for 1,000 in early January. If I don’t like it and there’s not enough young folks a quick bus down to Khon Kaen shouldn’t be a problem. Just sucks transporting all my stuff.

It just really depends on YOUR needs, wants and desires.

I lived in Phuket for 10 years and now live in Khon Kaen for 2 years. Big difference-BIG!!

Remember, what one person loves, another person might hate.

Good luck and hope you enjoy whatever you do!

4 hours ago, Presnock said:

For those talking about insurance in Thailand....I am 73 so I am well aware of cost of a thai insurance co for HEALTH insurance, thus I maintain my US insurer for my health insurance needs if I to need it and have been informed that in 2020 for their clients overseas, there is no deductible!  but as mentioned by several, ACCIDENT insurance (which I also have here in Thailand with a Thai agency - Muang Thai Insurance co. and at 73 it costs me 3400 baht per year.  This covers ANY ACCIDENT, not for health insurance.  But, it is not that much more expensive to add a 100,000 or more to the basic coverage which I think mine is either 300 or 400 thousand at my age, younger people can get the accident insurance for even less!  The hospitals for coverage (that accept it) are the top hospitals in Chiang Mai - we usually use Bangkok Hospital because of location.  The coverage for any accident my family has had (bitten by cat so rabies series after cleaning etc at hospital), broken finger, broken toe, back sprain with muscle spasms and all treatment was paid for by the insurance with absolutely no problem or delay.  All should at least have this insurance!

Sent you a private message and thank you for the information!

Thanks for the replies.

That's what I thought, just wanted to make sure.

Maybe a dumb question, but is it legal to have and to use CBD oil in Thailand?

Is it only legal if a doctor prescribes it?

Can you have it sent to you by post from overseas?

Thanks

1 hour ago, Pib said:

Just FYI.   The postman just made made mail delivery on my soi for 31 Oct.  My family member drawing SSA did not receive a 7162 during the June/July or September/October mailing.  I sent an email to Manila stating such and requesting action/next step on the 7162 non-receipt.  Below is the  automatic response I got which talks contacting Manila, non-receipt of 7162, and other issues.  Note that Manila now says do follow-up if not receiving a response unless you do not get a response from them in "10" business days; that use to be 5 business days earlier this year.  

 

 

 

Thanks for always keeping us informed and updated.

It is greatly appreciated!!

11 minutes ago, JESSVANPELT said:

Absolutely incorrect, Im American . I opened my account at Bangkok bank the same day my English friend did and we both were required the same documentation, And at no time was I asked to give my US social security number which is the only thing that would link me to a USA tax situation. 

 

You are very lucky, because all Thai banks are required to collect the social security number of all American citizens.

It has been that way for about 3 years, but we all know each bank does it's own thing sometimes.