How to Claim Your Google AdSense Payment Through Western Union

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Using an ad network like Google AdSense is one of the most common ways to monetize your blog and we’ve already made a guide on how you can get your Google AdSense account approved. This time we’ll discuss the next part of the process, and that is claiming your payment! Read this guide to avoid a few pitfalls that can delay or reduce your earnings!

First, Verify Your Address

Always check your AdSense account dashboard for any notices. If there are any errors, missing information, optimization opportunities, or other things you need to do, there will often be a notice at the top of the page. Read those carefully and solve them quickly if you can.

After you get your Google AdSense account approved and when you reach a certain amount of money in your account, Google will first need to verify your address before you can receive your first payment. They will send you a physical letter with an address PIN (personal identification number) and you will need to enter that number on the address verification page of your account.

The delivery time will vary depending on your location, so if you live in Southeast Asia like me, it might take a month or so before your letter arrives. It’s important that you enter your correct mailing address right at the start to prevent any issues. You can read Google’s address verification guide on this link.

This is the letter I received from Google by the way:

Setting up Payment Methods:

One main thing you need to set up on your account is your primary payment method. You can receive your AdSense payment through various methods, like having a check mailed to your address, an electronic fund transfer to your bank account, a wire transfer, or something else, but one of the most convenient ways for international bloggers like me to receive their cash is through Western Union’s Quick Cash service. Claiming your payment using that method is what this guide is about.

After setting up your primary payment method, when your AdSense account earnings reach the payment threshold (default is $100 USD) by the end of the month, you should be able to claim your payment by the 21st of the next month.

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How to Claim Your Google AdSense Payment Through Western Union Quick Cash:

Here are the basic steps once you’ve reached the payment threshold ($100) by the end of the previous month and the payment has been released on the 21st of the current month.

*You can read Google’s official guide here.

1. Find your Western Union MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) and sender information.

2. Locate a nearby Western Union agent with “Quick Cash”. (Note: In my location, the employees didn’t know what WU’s “quick cash” is. We’ll get to that later.)

3. Bring your valid ID (driver’s license, passport, SSS card, etc.) and take note of the information on your payment receipt. Note that if you’re receiving large amounts (P50,000+ which should be around $1,000+), you might need to bring two valid IDs.

4. Go to the Western Union agent with the “quick cash” service, show them your MTCN and ask if you can claim it. If you can, you should be able to receive your payment there. If not, try searching for another Western Union branch where you can.

5. Fill up the necessary forms and show them your valid IDs to claim your AdSense earnings!

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IMPORTANT TIPS:

Here are some things you might want to take note of when claiming payments.

1. (Philippines) Don’t ask the Western Union agent if they have “Quick Cash”. Instead, show them your MTCN and ask if you can claim it.

In the Philippines, I’ve personally spoke to and called several Western Union branches all over the city and none of them knew what quick cash was. The agent at SM Aura even told me to check other branches because they don’t have it. When I asked them to check if I can claim the payment on the MTCN I had, they said that I could. Again, don’t ask for the quick cash service. Show the MTCN and ask if you can claim the money there.

2. You might need to get a “My WU” number or account.

If you already have one, use it there. If it’s your first time, they’ll ask you to fill out a long form to get an account number. Once you receive one, write it down somewhere and use it to receive future payments so you won’t need to keep filling up a long registration form.

3. Check the foreign exchange rates across different WU branches and check if there are any transaction fees.

Depending on where you claim your payment, the exchange rate might be better or worse and you could lose a lot of money depending on the store’s rates. Check other branches to compare, and use the best one you can find.

Check their fees too. In the branch I went to at SM Aura’s lower ground level, claiming the payment directly has store fees would severely reduce my earnings and I would have gotten the terrible Western Union exchange rate of P52.60 per USD (this was last June 2018). When I used the “sell dollars” option they suggested (like you’re exchanging dollar bills in your wallet for your local currency), I got the mall’s higher exchange rate of P52.90 per USD.

You need to sign a tiny form for every exchange but it’s only a minor inconvenience.

Note: On my transaction last Dec. 2018, there was a tiny “documentary stamp tax” of $0.31 for the $100 that I received. It was approximately P16.26 at that time so it’s not much to worry about. As of Sep. 2019, the Philippine DST is now $0.35.

Once you fill out the forms and show your valid ID(s), the branch should then give you your payment. Congratulations! You’ve just earned money with Google AdSense!

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