BB1955

Asked:

My wife also is worry what she needs to do if I pass away. I am an American and she is Thai, not an American citizen, do not speak English, and dot have US SS number. She will need my modest retirement to keep life going...Can you tell me what you did to help your wife in the same case? Thank you.

Sam

Saudade53 at hotmail

Not much you can do unfortunately. THe rules for US SS is that for a wife to receive survivors benefits she must have resided in the US for I think it's 2 years and have a SS #. No exceptions. Looked into this in detail about 3 years ago for a friend that died here who had married a THai lady just 6 months before he passed away.

She has to have resided in the USA for 5 years living with you as your spouse ..... If thats not the case all she can get is one time death benifits ............

I have been buying what pills I take at the Pharmacy on Walking Street just down from Thaphe Gate . The two ladys that work there are honest and very helpful and they have most everything .

Thus far Bangkok Bank is the only bank that has a branch in the US . Being it has a routing number that can be used by any other bank in the USA to transfer funds . I have my funds directed to a US bank first as a buffer . Then a transfer from that bank to Bangkok bank NY branch . Becasue I do it this way I can transfer into a joint account that my wife can also access. If it was coming direct from my pension to Bangkok Bank. The account would have to be in my name only and no atm card on that account . You must go to the counter in person and transfer the money . Doing it this way I dont have to wire transfer where the fees are high . I usually have my money available in 5 days .... Good thing is I have everything set up automatic I do nothing just sit back everymonth and wait for the funds ....

I wonder if you could do like they do at Walmart in the US. Just pull into any Big Parking lot and set up house keeping ....

I will aggree the consulate here in Chiang Mai is little help to foreign spouses . I once helped a lady whos husband passed away . She spoke no english. They had her filling out all kinds of forms and had her thinking she would get monthly checks . Which was not the case ,, she had never lived in the USA and they knew it ... I emailed the embassy and explained to them what they were telling her was incorrect . Only to get an email back telling me how well trained they are in these matters .... B.S I wish they had used gramar check on the letter they sent me ....

As for this problem she should open up a Bangkok Bank account and it must be in her name only . Then have the checks directed to the NY Branch . very small fee attached ......

They also will not take your blood if you take blood thiners as in warfrin ....

I always worried about the ones that didnt say it , but I knew they wanted to casue harm and havoc . The ones that threaten thats usually all they ever do .....

Dont quite think the job market here is as open as you would think . Understand that if you dont have a work permit you can face some serious punishment and fines if you are caught working without one . Its also my understanding that in order to get a work permit to teach you must have atleast a bachelors degree . Most office jobs are taken by Thai's at Thai wages . If you are not dependant on an income here by all means this is a great place to live ....

What I was told was there was a time when a foreign husband or wife of a Thai who was in the country under a spouse based visa and obtained a yellow book showing there residence in Thailand was added into the registry when the Yellow book is processed in Bangkok . At that time there ID number was placed into the health care system and allowed them to get care under the 30 baht plan . I was told since then they have stopped adding the ID numbers into the system in Bangkok . So when you go to the hospital show them the yellow book they attempt to enter your ID number but the computer will not except it . Thats what happened to me and I was standing right there at the computer when she tried . She went on to say that those already in the system where being honored ... So if you got on it good for you .... Still if I just got a yellow book I would still attempt to get on it , never hurts to try . Again if someone else knows different share it with everyone .

Grace bakery has the best Crosants I have had anywhere . I think they are about 18 baht each but well worth the extra . They are on Somong Road next to the Texas BBQ > Great sandwiches too . But if you want the crossants get there when they open because they dont last long .... Grace is on face book too

Another..... see Remarks at the bottom of page :

http://whothailand.healthrepository.org/bitstream/123456789/590/1/National%20Health%20Act_2007.pdf

Both are easy to understand but didnt seem to answer the question . Just how the sytem is set up . Or did I miss something ?

Open your book. Top of the first page, 4 numbers then a dash then 6 numbers. If the first number of the 6 is not a 5 or 6 your stuffed. That's what I was told. I have a 0, and that's what it means.

I have a 0 as well and was not able to get on it ....

Ok I got the yellow book a couple of months ago in Hang Dong . We had gone to the hospital a few weeks prior and they were not sure if I would be covered or not . After getting the book we took it to the hospital they checked on the computer and advised I could not be covered . She stated that there was a time it was open to foreigners married to Thai s . But that has stopped . Now please if anyone knows different please tell me ..

Prior to that my wife got her book for the house . She took it to the hospital and was excepted and has used it a few times .

But Please if anyone knows insurance can be got with the yellow book and a way to do it I would like to know ....

When my wife worked back in my home country she sent 3 to 4 thousand a month home . She has one older sisiter and one older brother . Often times I would notice a somber look on her face after calling home , later to find out family needed money . I later learned it was her older brother presuring her to send more money home . I never gave an inch . I learned later he was making about 6 or 7 thousand baht a day from his wife cooking at the road side cafe we had bought her parents . Well his greed got him his wife took to gambling and left him leaving about 100,000 baht in un paid gambling debt ... No one to cook and no money coming in and two kids to put through school . I still did not budge .

After we moved here he called wanting to borrow 3000 baht , I said no ,,, We are not starting this .... Wife said give it to him he will not pay it back so next time he calls we can say no you never paid back last time ... So I did and sure enough three years later never paid it back ... If MIL sick wife will go down and help out , we dont send money every month , sister helps little bit but not much. Brother inlaws kids just suck up what the MIL and FIL have ... Wife went down and tossed one of the kids out , only to come back and find he had moved back in with his girlfriend .... Its sad but the tendency is to have kids let the grandparents deal with them while the parents are off doing what ever they want ....

Word to the wise if you start giving the more will be expected .. Best to nip it quick even if you have to sleep on the couch a few nights ....

When I smoked and walked that area I always put my cigarette out and keep them until I see a trash bin or get to a 7/11 they always have a bin outside ... I just wish the litter thing would catch on here everywhere ... Not just in the tourst areas ...

Hi guys, thanks so much for all your help! I will go over to cigars for a few days until Im back home. Cheers and thanks again. Joakim

There is a shop at the Moat near Thepae Gate that sells it a block past Mad Dogs on the left . Nice people she keeps it in the cooler and its 250 baht per can ....If you need better directions let me know ... Its made in Thailand and pretty good ..

I looked at what was available from China most of it is cheep stuff that will probably not last long. One company I found had some ok stuff but they wanted a wire transfer before they would ship .. I dont wire transfer to any company .. Pay pal or AMEX if they dont take it They dont get my business. I did see a system at Home Pro the other day that looked promising I did not have the time to check it real good . There are companies here in Thailand that install systems but they are anywhere from 15,000 to 50,000 baht

Im having the same problem in Chiang Mai they came out replaced some wiring its a little better but still drops out sometimes ....

Ban Wantang we looked there and found a house .. Then the first jet came across the roof then the next .... We looked else where found it much better in Rungarroon where houses rent for 5000 to 30,000 and plenty available . Close to the market and good security .... Lived there two years .... Then bought and built very close by ......

I went with Thai Health I pay 14,000 a year at 57 coverage is 400,000

Douwe Egberts at makro , 500 gr for under 150,- THB if i remember correctly.

I bought some of this the other day at Macro was affraid it was going to be trash based on the price . But its pretty good coffee for the price .....

I d also worrie about areas that might flood during rainy season .. I agree with the other poster as well noise from the airport is something to also consider ... But as far as being safe its about the same where ever you go here ...

I am considering buying a mower, have looked at the electric ones vrs the gas . I hate fooling with petrol and storing it .... Have a rather large area about 100 sqw to mow but I dont mind spending the time cutting the grass . Any sugestions what brand and where to buy one. Or are they junk and a waste of money . I pay 800 baht everytime they cut my grass , I figuire after a few times the mower would pay for itself and I might get some needed excersise to boot ????

I found him in front od SCB bank near the moat yesterday got 4 pieces of fish took ate 2 took two home for the wife . The fish was good as it was when I had it a few days before !!!