Social Security payments suspended for Americans abroad

[Lucas61]

Hello All,

This is "new stuff." I hope someone sees this embedded post. I just had a big SSA scare. For those who receive SSA benefits, as you know, it is mandatory to have a physical U.S. address in order to receive important SSA documents. These items of significance never appear in account messages. Needless to say, if we are not living in the U.S. this can be problematic. I receive banking and SSA mail at my sister's residence which I designate as my default U.S. residential address. Everything works fine without issues. So what's the problem? It was a secondary source that said that sometimes SSA reviews residential addresses to confirm that the SSA recipient actually resides at that address. Well, I could be in big trouble if that were come to pass. I consider it unlikely but not impossible. The SSA has a brochure on the status of receiving benefits in a foreign country. Americans have complete freedom to live in a country of their choice, with a few exceptions, and receive SSA benefits. So given that this is SSA sanctioned but that SSA does not send international mail, how does SSA expect a recipient to receive snail-mail? There's a contradiction here: a. You can live in a foreign country, b. You can only receive mail at a U.S. address, c. You must be a resident at that address at the same time that you are living in a foreign country . . .

What do you think is the risk here? I'm now going to search for SSA document for Americans in foreign countries and re-read it. I'm sure as hell not going to ask SSA about this question!

 

[SKY]

Do you have to fill out those forms for out of the Country every year?........

 

[Lucas61]

Do you have to fill out those forms for out of the Country every year?........

I never said anything about forms. This is not the topic of my post.

 

[SKY]

I never said anything about forms. This is not the topic of my post.

It may not be the topic, but it sure could be the reason...........Yes or NO do you fill out this form?

 

[Lucas61]

It may not be the topic, but it sure could be the reason...........Yes or NO do you fill out this form?

What is "this form"? You never named the form.

 

[SKY]

What is "this form"? You never named the form.

Some people here are obligated to fill it out by the US Embassy or SS. If you know nothing about this then this is not the reason..............But did you ever have any correspondence with the US Embassy in SD?..........

 

[SKY]

Sorry I read your post again. If you have not received anything from SS and are relying on a comment made you can forget it............Don't worry, just avoid the US Embassy in SD and you will be fine.....

 

[Lucas61]

OP Summary re: Expat Addresses AND MORE! If you go to ssa.gov and scroll down, you will find "Record" and "Update Contact Information." When you click on that you will NOT find "residence" address. You will only find "mailing address." That's good because that's exactly what my U.S. address is. And, when you think about it, SSA approves sending your payments in foreign countries (restrictions apply). If that's the case, then obviously your residence is in that foreign country. So it would be impossible that it would ALSO be in the U.S.

Here's an important piece of information. Go to: ssa.gov/forms and scroll down. Find EN-05-10137. This form is titled "Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States." Regarding the critical form that must be sent to SSA regarding changes in marital status, etc. --the form everyone here is talking about that may or may not be sent by FBU--this document explains whether you will receive the form once per year or once per two years. Further, if you will receive it once per two years, it will tell you in which year you will receive it depending on the last digits of your SSN. For me, I can see that I will not receive this form until May/June, 2026, so I don't have to worry about it this year. That also tells me that if I don't receive it that I should just download it myself, e-sign it, and sent it to where it's supposed to go. More expat information can be found at ssa.gov/foreign

 

[SKY]

OP Summary re: Expat Addresses AND MORE! If you go to ssa.gov and scroll down, you will find "Record" and "Update Contact Information." When you click on that you will NOT find "residence" address. You will only find "mailing address." That's good because that's exactly what my U.S. address is. And, when you think about it, SSA approves sending your payments in foreign countries (restrictions apply). If that's the case, then obviously your residence is in that foreign country. So it would be impossible that it would ALSO be in the U.S.

Here's an important piece of information. Go to: ssa.gov/forms and scroll down. Find EN-05-10137. This form is titled "Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States." Regarding the critical form that must be sent to SSA regarding changes in marital status, etc. --the form everyone here is talking about that may or may not be sent by FBU--this document explains whether you will receive the form once per year or once per two years. Further, if you will receive it once per two years, it will tell you in which year you will receive it depending on the last digits of your SSN. For me, I can see that I will not receive this form until May/June, 2026, so I don't have to worry about it this year. That also tells me that if I don't receive it that I should just download it myself, e-sign it, and sent it to where it's supposed to go. More expat information can be found at ssa.gov/foreign

How would they know you are an expat anyway? People live in the US and travel all over the World. If SS has an address for you in the US that is good enough. You don't think they have a guy following you in Sosua or wherever you are. Only if you notify SS or the Embassy that you are an expat would they send you anything.............

 

[Lucas61]

How would they know you are an expat anyway? People live in the US and travel all over the World. If SS has an address for you in the US that is good enough. You don't think they have a guy following you in Sosua or wherever you are. Only if you notify SS or the Embassy that you are an expat would they send you anything.............

Yes, absolutely!

 

[Gadfly]

SSA uses my BMCargo address. I’ve told them it takes 4-6 weeks to receive my mail. I’m living in the DR, “So if/when you send me that questionnaire … “. They explained the procedure and said don’t worry. Never had a problem. (Knock on wood).
I receive all my mail this way from everyone.

 

[SKY]

SSA uses my BMCargo address. I’ve told them it takes 4-6 weeks to receive my mail. I’m living in the DR, “So if/when you send me that questionnaire … “. They explained the procedure and said don’t worry. Never had a problem. (Knock on wood). I receive all my mail this way from everyone.

They just layed off 8,000 SS employees and are talking about the possibility of doing away with phone service. You read the first post. Anything can happen.......

 

[Lucas61]

SSA uses my BMCargo address. I’ve told them it takes 4-6 weeks to receive my mail. I’m living in the DR, “So if/when you send me that questionnaire … “. They explained the procedure and said don’t worry. Never had a problem. (Knock on wood).
I receive all my mail this way from everyone.

Hmm, interesting. Re: Vimenpaq, I have always assumed but never confirmed that they would accept regular mail ("letters"). How much does BMCargo charge? Can't be by weight, can it?

 

[Lucas61]

They just layed off 8,000 SS employees and are talking about the possibility of doing away with phone service. You read the first post. Anything can happen.......

No doubt, big cause for concern. However, the processes that are most important--sending payments--are automated. Staff are necessary for new applications, solving problems, etc.

 

[NanSanPedro]

SSA uses my BMCargo address. I’ve told them it takes 4-6 weeks to receive my mail. I’m living in the DR, “So if/when you send me that questionnaire … “. They explained the procedure and said don’t worry. Never had a problem. (Knock on wood).
I receive all my mail this way from everyone.

Exact same here. I do go online 2x a year to make sure they know I'm not dead.

 

[Abuela]

They just layed off 8,000 SS employees and are talking about the possibility of doing away with phone service. You read the first post. Anything can happen.......

Correcting the Record About Social Security Direct Deposit and Telephone Services​

March 12, 2025 • By Social Security Administration

Reading Time: 1 Minute
Last Updated: March 12, 2025

Recent reports in the media that Social Security plans to eliminate telephone services are inaccurate. SSA is increasing its protection for America’s seniors and other beneficiaries by eliminating the risk of fraud associated with changing bank account information by telephone.
SSA continuously investigates and analyzes potential threats to strengthen and secure our programs and protect people who receive benefits. Approximately 40 percent of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with someone calling SSA to change direct deposit bank information. SSA’s current protocol of simply asking identifying questions by telephone is no longer enough to prevent fraud.
If someone needs to change their bank account information on SSA’s record, they will need to either:

• Use two-factor authentication with SSA’s “my Social Security” service; or
• Visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity.

These methods align with most major banks.
All other SSA telephone services remain unchanged.

 

[Gadfly]

Hmm, interesting. Re: Vimenpaq, I have always assumed but never confirmed that they would accept regular mail ("letters"). How much does BMCargo charge? Can't be by weight, can it?

Yes it’s by weight. I pay them 35 pesos to pick up one standard mailing. Packages cost more. Otherwise it’s a free account to open and keep.

 

[Gadfly]

They just layed off 8,000 SS employees and are talking about the possibility of doing away with phone service. You read the first post. Anything can happen.......

Agree with you, when I’m told don’t worry It usually makes me start to worry.
I know “It’s never a problem until it’s a problem” but damn the torpedoes I say.

 

[JD Jones]

Hmm, interesting. Re: Vimenpaq, I have always assumed but never confirmed that they would accept regular mail ("letters"). How much does BMCargo charge? Can't be by weight, can it?

DOMEX is a little odd in this respect.
I have a spreadsheet of the last 1100 packages I've received since May of 2022, and 21 were envelopes.
I have been charged as much as 80 pesos for a letter, but I have a ton of correspondence they've delivered but charged nothing.

 

[Father Guido]

I just wish the VA would suspend the welfare payments to the losers who are walking around Boca Chica with no visible disability