Travel And Social Security

I don't know anybody who does that.

Congratulations on joining the exclusive Social Security program! ;-)

I don't remember ever hearing of such a requirement and I can't imagine that people do that. I certainly never have. (Or should I check with a lawyer before admitting that?)

Maybe it's a throwback to when SSA mailed checks to people and didn't want them unclaimed or stolen from mailboxes. Direct deposit solves that problem and others.

No, never had. Always interpreted that around getting checks or other correspondence from SS. Surprised that the current application for SS has that statement. But it could be CYA in the event that something happens so you cannot blame the SS administration. Gov't regulations are full of those kinds of statements. Reminds me a little bit of the postings, "No one told me that you had to validate tickets on public transit."

Thanks for your replies. I signed up for direct deposit. Do they even send checks anymore? I'm looking forward to my first check. More travel money!!

I am a retired claims specialist from Social Security.

Not only would we not care about your trip, how would we ever know? What this is about is if you are out for over 30 days and payment then has to be sent outside the US (for if you are out 30+ days then a payment would presumably be due) there are countries where SSA will not send the money. You can see this in the pamphlet I have linked here: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf

If your checks are coming direct deposit to your US bank account (or for some odd reason you have managed to receive paper checks--which SSA really out to do away with in entirety - and someone deposits them to your US account here), then this is never an issue.

hey andrea
congratulations on joining this "elite" club. love it. never heard about the 4 week thing and how would they know? let's hope the ss patrol is not lurking and trolling here. enjoy
aloha

Larry, thanks for the insider information. It didn't make sense that they would want to know, but that's what it said. As a fraud investor of 25+ years, I always want to be on the up and up. Now I won't give it another thought. :-)

You were a fraud investor? That doesn't sound like a good retirement plan!

I had a great job! Unfortunately I had to retire 5 years ago for health reasons. It pays to work for an employer with a pension plan! Now I'm eligible for SS in a few months. It will cover the enormous premium I pay for my health insurance and leave a bit left.

Andrea, she was teasing you a little. Auto Correct changed investigator to investor in your post.....

I just noticed that! Investigator!!!!!

Just a note about SS. You can receive your benefits anywhere in the world you may be or live with the exception of a few banned countries. Unlike some European countries that demand their citizens spend a certain amount of time in-country to qualify for benefits the US does not.

And in some countries around the world you can live quite comfortably on your SS check alone.

I'm still pondering a 25+ year career as a "fraud investor". :-)

Continental, it might be like a Ponzi scheme. ;-)

I am fortunate that the SS is deposited directly into the travel checking account. And so is my wife's check but after the insurance deduction, it is like $99 dollars.

The simple answer is "no" The Soc Sec check is directly deposited by the 3rd Wed of the month into my checking account.

I work for the part of Treasury that sends the payments. What Larry says is right, there are a number of countries we won't send checks to. The good news is there are more that we will send checks to. If you live in one where we don't have established banking relationships (North Korea comes to mind), you have to work out a way to receive your money through a country where we will make a payment.

I'm also guessing the requirement is a throwback to when we mailed checks. Now the vast majority of our payments are made electronically. If your bank receives your check electronically, it's there whether you're home or not.