Sec Form 4 Filing - Benson Jean C @ MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC - 2009-08-11

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Benson Jean C 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC [ MGI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SVP & Controller (Last) (First) (Middle) 1550 UTICA AVENUE SOUTH, SUITE 100 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 08/11/2009 (Street) MINNEAPOLIS, MN55416 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Option (right to buy) ( 1 ) $ 2.3 08/11/2009 A 1,000,000 ( 2 ) 08/11/2019 Common Stock 1,000,000 $ 0 1,000,000 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Benson Jean C 1550 UTICA AVENUE SOUTH SUITE 100 MINNEAPOLIS, MN55416 SVP & Controller Signatures Teresa H. Johnson on behalf of Jean C. Benson 08/13/2009 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Non-qualified stock option granted pursuant to MoneyGram International, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended, pursuant to the Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated August 11, 2009. ( 2 )Options for 50% of the shares are "Time Vested" and options for 50% of the shares are "Performance Vested." The Time Vested options vest as follows: 15% on September 11, 2009; 20% on August 11, 2010; 20% on August 11, 2011; 20% on August 11, 2012; 10% on August 11, 2013; and 15% on August 11, 2014. The Performance Vested options will vest as follows: Options for 50% of the shares will vest when the value of the common stock of the Corporation has reached $3.50 per share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days during the 5-year period following the grant date; and options for 50% of the shares will vest when the value of the common stock of the Corporation has reached $5.25 per share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days during the 5-year period following the grant date. If the shares of common stock of the Corporation are not publicly traded, then vesting for the options that are Performance Vested will be vested in the manner set forth in the stock option agreement.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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