Dead or alive thingy

[1happykamper]

The USA SSA has my permanent legal address as me living in California. 

 

If I change my social security direct deposit to a Thai bank using the ssa-1199-op107... (Which gets mailed to Manila,)... will this trigger those "dead or alive" certifications that some people get every year or two ? I've been outside of the US since 20012 and have never got one of those forms.. yet. 

 

Thanks for any constructive comment 

[Sheryl]

3 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

I can? How? SSA only sends money to a USA routing number. Right? 

No. SSA will do direct deposit to a Thai Bank using their SWIFT code. 

 

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199.html

 

However it is required that you are living outside the US to fo this so I don't see hoe you can arrange this keeping a US address. 

 

The annual "are you alive" letters aren't thst onerous The only concern is the erratic mail delivery in Thailand.  You just remember to download the form and mail it in each year if you haven't received thd letter by say end of Octobrr. 

[1happykamper]

Fantastic.. But when I am on the as admin site I only see "routing number". 

 

I would add appreciate your help 🙏

[Jingthing]

In my opinion, it would be prudent to change your address with the SSA to your Thai address if you start automatic monthly deposits to a Thai bank.

Why? 

Well, it's obvious if you're doing that you live in Thailand. 

You're technically required to notify SSA of address changes so even if not immediately flagged in my opinion the issue would likely come up later.

Trying to avoid that letter is not a valid excuse.

The letter though being sent late this year for suspicious reasons is really not that big a deal if you're living at an address that receives mail in Thailand.

[Sheryl]

On 7/11/2025 at 10:10 AM, 1happykamper said:

Fantastic.. But when I am on the as admin site I only see "routing number". 

 

I would add appreciate your help 🙏

Go to the site I listed.

 

Download and complete Form 1199 for Thailand. Yout bank has to complete part of it. Then submit it via the Manila office as indicated on the form.  You may need first to be showing your Thai address on your SS account. 

[1happykamper]

And I don't have to put my Thailand address? Great! 

 

Will this trigger the dead or alive form? 

[jeffandgop]

8 hours ago, Sheryl said:

No. SSA will do direct deposit to a Thai Bank using their SWIFT code. 

 

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199.html

 

However it is required that you are living outside the US to fo this so I don't see hoe you can arrange this keeping a US address. 

 

The annual "are you alive" letters aren't thst onerous The only concern is the erratic mail delivery in Thailand.  You just remember to download the form and mail it in each year if you haven't received thd letter by say end of Octobrr. 

Concerns are not limited to just  "erratic mail delivery in Thailand". There's also the concern (1) Did the SSA mail out the form? (2) Did the USPO process the mail properly and timely when the SSA mailed out the form? (3) Did the USPO process the mail properly and timely when the individual returned by mailed the form back to the SSA? (4) Did the SSA process the returned form properly and timely?  As there no notifications or information from the SSA to the individual as to the steps completed during these annual nightmare, if you don't get the form or do and return it and failures along the way you're in the dark until if and when your benefit is cut off.  Three years ago I returned the form I received in Thailand directly with a USPO while I was visiting the US and I still got a warning and another form to complete & return months later!

[KhunLA]

4 hours ago, jeffandgop said:

Concerns are not limited to just  "erratic mail delivery in Thailand". There's also the concern (1) Did the SSA mail out the form? (2) Did the USPO process the mail properly and timely when the SSA mailed out the form? (3) Did the USPO process the mail properly and timely when the individual returned by mailed the form back to the SSA? (4) Did the SSA process the returned form properly and timely?  As there no notifications or information from the SSA to the individual as to the steps completed during these annual nightmare, if you don't get the form or do and return it and failures along the way you're in the dark until if and when your benefit is cut off.  Three years ago I returned the form I received in Thailand directly with a USPO while I was visiting the US and I still got a warning and another form to complete & return months later!

'annual nightmares'  ...  do you people ever leave the house, as there is danger everywhere.

 

What if, what if, what if, what if ... 

 

Edited out snide remark, as sitting here corrected 🙄

 

[bamnutsak]

 

From: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199.html

 

 

Use the SSA-1199 sign-up form to enroll in International Direct Deposit (IDD). Forms are available on this site for all participating IDD countries. Before enrolling in IDD, you must meet the following requirements:

You must be a Title II beneficiary;
You must reside outside the U.S.;
You must keep us informed of your residence address (If you return to live in the U.S., IDD will cease); and
You must select a direct deposit account in a foreign financial institution (FI) that meets the requirements outlined in GN 02402.030 and GN 02402.045 through GN 02402.060

 

 

So I think you'll have to receive and reply to the dead or alive thingy.

 

 

[KhunLA]

14 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

 

From: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199.html

 

 

Use the SSA-1199 sign-up form to enroll in International Direct Deposit (IDD). Forms are available on this site for all participating IDD countries. Before enrolling in IDD, you must meet the following requirements:

You must be a Title II beneficiary;
You must reside outside the U.S.;
You must keep us informed of your residence address (If you return to live in the U.S., IDD will cease); and
You must select a direct deposit account in a foreign financial institution (FI) that meets the requirements outlined in GN 02402.030 and GN 02402.045 through GN 02402.060

 

 

So I think you'll have to receive and reply to the dead or alive thingy.

Damn, AI got me.  I gave up searching for accurate info ... THANKS.

[bamnutsak]

FWIW, you can have your SSA benefit direct-deposited to an account in the U.S., and have a Thai address.

 

I've done this for a while, for the IRS and SSA I use my Thai address, so have to file FBARs, 7162's, but I deposit my SSA to an account in the U.S.

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, bamnutsak said:

FWIW, you can have your SSA benefit direct-deposited to an account in the U.S., and have a Thai address.

 

I've done this for a while, for the IRS and SSA I use my Thai address, so have to file FBARs, 7162's, but I deposit my SSA to an account in the U.S.

 

 

 

Me too.

[jeffandgop]

19 hours ago, KhunLA said:

'annual nightmares'  ...  do you people ever leave the house, as there is danger everywhere.

 

What if, what if, what if, what if ... 

 

Edited out snide remark, as sitting here corrected 🙄

 

A process with multiple single point failures is a high risk process.  You may choose to ignore it; I choose to be cognizant of it.  The termination of my benefit without warning because of a process fault is not something to be treated as being something akin to being a danger arising without warning.  In the case of the 7162 form the risks are readily known and have been experienced.