Are US citizens required to have a US bank account to receive Social Security while living abroad?

Question

My daughter and I are US citizens and we reside in Moscow, RF. My former wife and the mother of my daughter died recently. She was a US citizen and was living in the USA. Due to her mother's loss, my daughter is eligible for a SS pension.

According to SS administrators, in order to get the pension, I must have a US bank account because the pension funds can only be transferred to the account of a legal guardian. I do not have any US banking accounts nor am I a current US resident.

Is there a way to settle the issue of receiving the funds and avoid my having to go to the USA to physically apply and open a bank account?

Answer 1

According to the Social Security Administration's FAQ, there is no general requirement to have your funds deposited in a US-based bank; you just need to live in a country where the SSA can send benefits. A quick glance suggests Russia is one of those countries, so I would contact the SSA to figure out the details of setting up such internationals deposits.