Do you receive your U.S. Social Security Checks ABROAD? It COULD be SUSPENDED if you do not turn your Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire, Form SSA-7162 or SSA-7161 in BY Dec. 30, 2013

 

WHAT?

In July (and a follow-up notice was also sent in October to those that had not sent their forms back), the U.S. Social Security Administration mailed out a "Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire" - Form SSA-7162 or SSA-7161 which those effected (see below "Who Must Turn in this Form") were supposed to complete and sign and return in the enclosed envelope to the Social Security facility in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania BY December 30, 2013.

  WHO DOES THIS EFFECT - 2013?

People receiving Social Security benefits that LIVE OUTSIDE the United States

 - and/OR -
Beneficiaries who have representative payees, that is persons receiving benefits on behalf of a minor or disabled person.
AND

Whose Social Security number ENDS in a number between 50-99

WHY DID I NOT RECEIVE THIS?
If you fall into one of the categories above and you have NOT received your questionnaire from Social Security asking for this, it could be because it went to one of your previous addresses.
IS YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS CURRENT?


I DON'T HAVE THE FORM OR I LOST IT - NOW WHAT?
 You MUST IMMEDIATELY fill out
Form SSA-7161-OCR-SM
and BRING it to the U.S. Embassy in Pavas, Costa Rica RIGHT AWAY
OR
RISK HAVING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT CUT OFF!!



YIKES!!  WHAT DO I DO IF I FORGOT TO MAIL IT IN?
You can spend LOTS of $$ to Federal Express or DHL it to Pennsylvania
OR
(and what I'd do to ENSURE it being received - AND it's FREE!!!)
*RUN - do NOT walk IMMEDIATELY to
DROP IT OFF at the
U.S. Embassy in Pavas, Costa Rica
(MAKE SURE TO BRING YOUR ORIGINAL PASSPORT TO GET IN!!!)
OR
RISK HAVING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT CUT OFF!!



NOW WHAT DO I DO?

*#1 - You MUST CALL to make an appointment

2-519-2228


WHEN ARE APPOINTMENTS MADE FOR?

Mondays to Fridays - 8am-11:30am

BUT - NOT on the 2nd and last Thursday of each month!!  

(BIG HINT!!!:  Stay AWAY from a Monday or Friday or the day before or after a holiday where they have a day off)

WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO US??
 To me, this is a NO BRAINER and I do not get how many people I've seen on various message boards and ExPat groups that are kvetching about it - complaining they're trying to track their every move!!
#1 - they're making sure the person receiving the benefits ARE IN FACT STILL RECEIVING the benefits!!  Trust me - there are PLENTY of people that when their loved one/friend dies - they don't bother to report it to their embassy (something you MUST do when someone dies abroad!!) let alone Social Security.  And SOME of them keep cashing those checks for the ghost and living off of it!!!  This happens LOTS more than you imagine!!
Don't quote me, but I think this article sort of sums it up
USExpatCostaRica.com/social-security-fraud-embassy


WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DON'T DO THIS?
The U.S. government MAY VERY WELL FREEZE your Social Security checks

IF THAT HAPPENS, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RE-ACTIVATE MY SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS?

If benefits are interrupted for failure to return the questionnaire, it could take 45-days or longer to resume your payments.



HOW MANY PEOPLE IN COSTA RICA MIGHT THIS EFFECT?

The U.S. Embassy said that as of December, at least 800 people receiving U.S. Social Security benefits in Costa Rica have not returned the form that had been mailed to them by the Social Security Administration.

MORE INFORMATION AT:
CostaRica.USEmbassy.gov/time-is-running-out.html

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@


LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/11/USSSChecksAbroadCR.html

.