Receiving social security payments living in Ukraine

[Wayne]

Attention, any USA citizens living in Ukraine: If you are retired, how do you receive your social security payments while living in Ukraine?
 
From the government website:
 
 Social Security restrictions  Social Security restrictions prohibit sending payments to individuals in Cambodia, Vietnam or areas that were in the former Soviet Union (other than Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia). Generally, you cannot receive payments while you are in one of these countries, and we cannot send your payments to anyone for you. However, exceptions can be made for certain eligible beneficiaries in countries with Social Security restrictions in place.
To qualify for an exception, you must agree to the conditions of payment. One of the conditions is that you must appear in person at the U.S. Embassy each month to receive your benefits. Contact your nearest U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate for additional information about these conditions and whether you might qualify for an exception.
If you do not qualify for payment under this procedure, you can receive all of the payments for which you were eligible (but which were withheld because of Social Security restrictions) once you leave that country and go to another country where we can send payments
 
 
It would be expensive to take the train to Kyiv every month. Since social security has direct payment to a USA bank account, can you have social direct deposited to your USA bank account and then just use an atm to withdraw money in Ukraine?  Of course, you would have fees involved and might have to receive the money in grivinas.

[BC]

Attention, any USA citizens living in Ukraine: If you are retired, how do you receive your social security payments while living in Ukraine?
 
From the government website:
 
 Social Security restrictions  Social Security restrictions prohibit sending payments to individuals in Cambodia, Vietnam or areas that were in the former Soviet Union (other than Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia). Generally, you cannot receive payments while you are in one of these countries, and we cannot send your payments to anyone for you. However, exceptions can be made for certain eligible beneficiaries in countries with Social Security restrictions in place.
To qualify for an exception, you must agree to the conditions of payment. One of the conditions is that you must appear in person at the U.S. Embassy each month to receive your benefits. Contact your nearest U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate for additional information about these conditions and whether you might qualify for an exception.
If you do not qualify for payment under this procedure, you can receive all of the payments for which you were eligible (but which were withheld because of Social Security restrictions) once you leave that country and go to another country where we can send payments
 
 
It would be expensive to take the train to Kyiv every month. Since social security has direct payment to a USA bank account, can you have social direct deposited to your USA bank account and then just use an atm to withdraw money in Ukraine?  Of course, you would have fees involved and might have to receive the money in grivinas.

And then again you would likely have a credit card based on the US account so would be able to pay / get cash at ATM with it just like any visitor would.

[ML]

Wayne, this question appears on many forums:

Read carefully the words you have quoted above:

" . . . you cannot receive payments while you are in one of these countries"

It doesn't just say you can't have payments sent to you in these countries . . . it says you CAN'T RECEIVE PAYMENTS WHILE THERE.

This is because the countries in question are unreliable with respect to reporting of deceased USA citizens and several  other reasons.

Sure, there are probably many persons who don't tell SS about their whereabouts, and use ATM machines in those countries.

If you try it, be sure to have an address in USA for receipt of mail, and a reliable person who receives and opens your mail, because you need to reply to official SS inquiries, etc.

But, if you  get caught, there will be hell to pay.