Spring 2004 issue

Receiving Social Security Benefits Will Soon Be Easier

Benefits To Be Paid Directly To Recipients’ Bank Accounts

Starting this summer, Social Security recipients in Poland will be able to have their benefits paid directly into their U.S.-dollar Polish bank accounts via electronic funds transfer (EFT). This new system offers many advantages over the old system of cashing checks. By taking advantage of EFT, beneficiaries will save a lot of time, money, and hassle.

While the start-up date is not final, it is likely to be this summer. The Embassy is now sending out letters requesting beneficiaries’ bank account information so that we may put it into our secure database. There may be a delay between the time when beneficiaries provide the Embassy with their bank account information and when they start receiving their benefits via EFT. Please do not contact the Embassy to inquire about the starting date of the program. We will be working very hard to make sure it is done as soon as possible.

Electronic funds transfer has many advantages over the old-fashioned method of receiving and cashing checks. EFT assures that money is regularly deposited to the beneficiary’s bank account. There is no wait for the Post Office to deliver checks. You do not have to worry that the check might be lost or stolen. There are no more special trips to a bank to wait in line. Once deposited into the beneficiary’s account, the money is available for immediate use. There is no need to wait for the check to clear before the money can be withdrawn. Beneficiaries can access their benefits immediately.

EFT is cheaper than checks, so it saves the U.S. taxpayer money, too.

Social Security beneficiaries in the United States are already taking advantage of EFT. We now want to bring this service to Poland. For the time being, deposits must be made to bank accounts denominated in U.S. dollars, not Polish zloty. Deposits into Polish zloty accounts are planned for the future.

Changing Your Address? Tell Social Security! If your address changes or a Social Security beneficiary dies, you must immediately notify the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw or the Consulate General in Krakow. Collecting benefits to which the account holder is not entitled is fraud.

Federal Benefits Appointments. If beneficiaries want to visit the Federal Benefits Unit, please call ahead to make an appointment. In order to give your concerns the attention they need, we must first order your records. If we do not have your documentation, you might have to make a return trip to the Embassy.

You can contact the Federal Benefits Unit at:
American Embassy
Federal Benefits Unit
ul. Piekna 12
00-539 Warszawa

phone: (+48 22) 504-2112 between the hours of 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM
fax: (+48 22) 504-2122
e-mail: fbuwarsaw@state.gov

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE: Did you know that if you collect U.S. or Polish pensions other than Social Security, those pensions may impact the amount of your Social Security benefits? More on this in our next issue.

Welcome to our Readers || US-VISIT Comes Into Effect || Visa Denials Receiving Social Security Benefits Will Soon Be Easier || ELECTIONS 2004 Embassy Sees Many Applicants For Diversity Visas || Visas Dominate High Level Talks || Polish Students To Work In U.S. || Warsaw Hosts Consular Conference || How Can I Get Answers To My Consular Questions?