What are the best practices for managing Social Security payments while living in Thailand?

@Nick *********

these people in all these comments are making it way to difficult. You’re absolutely right finally some common sense. 

@Kenny *****************

SS deposits direct to my BB account and is covered under the agreement.

@Kenny *****************

interesting ..nfcu has branch there

@David ********

It will still be taxed by Uncle Sam though.

@Mike ******

A few private hospitals will bill Tricare direclty 75% for in-patient care. Out-patient care is paid up front 100%,, then you submit your claims via online claim portal. Takes about 3-4 weeks to process for 75% reimbursement via direct deposit into your U.S. bank account. Bumrungrad in Bangkok; Bangkok Hospital here in Pattaya, and possibly Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok do bill direclty 75% for in=patient care. Bangkok Hospital here in Pattaya also bills VA FMP directly 100% for sevice-connnected treatment. There is also a medical clinic on Pratumnak Hill, Patttay which is contracted by the VA FMP via a private company to treat service-connected conditions. Examinations, physical therapy and massage treatment is offered.

@Mike ******

I'm Civil Service Retiree not Military. I have BCBS Federal and Medicare A/B currently.

@John ******

you can just switch your direct deposit information online. Check it out. 🤷

@John ******

I can't recall a lot, but it was the Philippines SS office that facilitated my DD to Bangkok Bank in 02

Do recall, easy to reach , very helpful, gave me his mobile if any problem.

@Al *******

just a heads up, if all your ATM withdrawals are in Thailand and all your transfers are to a bank in Thailand, your bank will figure it out and freeze you. Best to go with an expat friendly bank like Schwab, Fidelity or USAA if you are a vet.

@Al *******

What bank does that? I would love to have that

@Keith ******

nfcu has branch in guam..several trip from bangmok

@Keith ******

No restrictions. Only problem is having a reliable mail service to receive your annual letter from Social Security to verify your status. If not sent in with your signature by 30 - 60 days or so. your monthy benefit will stop. To restart, you'd have to contact the Social Securty office in the U,S. Embasssy, Manila, Philippines to coordinate getting a replacement form to fill out and restart your deposit. You are suppose to notify Social Security within 10 days of your physical presense outside of the U.S.A. or its territories. I used to have (before the pandemic) a Mail Boxes Etc. address in Bangkok for several years. Social Security would send the annual letter and other correspondence to that address. Since the pandemic. I've gone to the S.S. office on Guam and had them enter my Guam private mail box address. Haven't received any annual letters since.

@Keith ******

welcome back to Chiangmsi...you don't need a US address and Banking here is tedious but reliable.

Pensions and SS can be DD into your Thai Bank

@Keith ******

look into South Dakota residence very easy and no state taxes

@Keith ******

get the NFCU rewards credit cards. You can use them in many places here and they give you whatever the current international exchange rate is for Dollar to Baht.

@Keith ******

may help to read up on last state of residence ...and establishing residence in a non income tax state before you move. Not sure about virginia but California and a few other states are really strict and do audits to enable them to keep taxing you even after you move.

@Keith ******

Ditto! I am also planning to retire in Chiang Mai, Thailand. And there are a LOT of US expats retired there. They certainly don't have much trouble getting their Social Security whilst living abroad.

@Brian *******

Some banks may cancel your account. But others won't. As long as you maintain a mailing address in the U.S.A. for correspondence and sending of replacement/renewal debit/credit cards. I have Bank of Hawaii and 2 credit unions. I normally update via online banking travel notifications every 2-3 months. No problems since 2012.

@Brian *******

I would need a new U.S. address so that I don't have to continue paying Virginia State tax once we leave the U.S. They actually came after me when I was stationed at the Embassy in Paris in the 80's. Had to prove I had permanent residence in New Mexico. Also need a residence to maintain a U.S. drivers license.

@Brian *******

just set up wise transfer ever month and it will work for your visa extension

Also, I will have a Thai bank account, so if it does happen I'll just use that. Already checked with my pension, and if necessary they will direct deposit to a foreign bank.

@Brian *******

In general you would not want to let your US financial institutions know that you are living outside of the US. Use your US mailing address instead. Having a non-US resident customer can cause problems for US financial institutions that may be solved by the US financial institution closing your account or placing restrictions on your account.

@Brian *******

With a thai address eventually you might have to opt for the Schwab international banking account. This is what they told me over the phone.

@Tk ******

That is not true

@Tk ******

You can live outside the country as long as you want to and collect

@Tk ******

Not true, it's not SS money, it's yours, it's paid until you pass.

I dont maintain an address, and but for 1 trip for Obama Innaug have been here over 20 yrs. SS and Pension DD to Thai Bank.

Never a problem.

@Tk ******

no

@Tk ******

not true

@Tk ******

not true. I haven't been to the US in years. I applied for SS from Australia once I reached age and it was approved. I do however maintain an Australian address and bank though I now live in Thailand. My caseworker never indicated that I had to visit the US at all.

@Tk ******

Not ture for US Social Security.

@Tk ******

I haven't been back to the US in 13 years, and it hasn't affected my SS at all. My Thai address is also where they send my mail to, no problem. I do not need any US address, and am not required to be in the US at all for even one day. You have been fed false information.

@Tk ******

not true. If you told Social Security you are moving overseas every year you have to verify with them that you are still alive. They have a form that you send to them for this.

@Tk ******

you have heard wrong

@Tk ******

You do not have to spend any time in the US. I’ve been on Social Security in Thailand since 2018. I was in Thailand four years during Covid and never in the US more than 2 weeks per year when visiting. I think other countries have rules such as you described but not the US.