U.S. Citizens Receiving Social Security Benefits Abroad Need These Forms

Generally, the US Social Security system requires all people living abroad receiving Social Security benefits to file a form SSA–7162 OCRM-SM annually.

These are known as the proof of life forms. Failure to submit form SSA-7162 OCRM-SM to the Social Security Administration with these forms means you could lose your benefits.

So we want to show you what you must do so you don’t accidentally stop receiving your payments.

Who is required to file?

All people receiving Social Security retirement benefits (Social Security Retirement, Disability, and Survivors) with foreign addresses registered with the SSA. It does not matter if your check is deposited in the USA or to a foreign bank account because it’s all about your mailing address on file with the SSA.

If you have a foreign address on file with the administration, it is required or you could end up having your payments suspended.

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How To File Form SSA-7162 OCRM-SM

To reinstate the benefits, you must take the following actions:

• Complete the SSA-7162 OCRM-SM form if you receive payments in your name.
• Please make sure to include the following:
  • Social Security Number
  • Signature (Note: we cannot accept digital or electronic signatures)
  • Date

You will need to send the original document (no copies) physically to one of the following addresses:

Social Security Administration
Wilkes Barre Data Operations Center
Attention: FEQ Analyst, FEQ Forms 7161-7162
1150 E. Mountain Dr.
Room 341
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702-7997

Source: US Embassy in Mexico

Remember that if you live in Mexico, you may need to send this form through DHL or FedEx with tracking. I would not recommend sending these through Mexico’s postal service since you cannot request a tracking number.

Download Forms 7162

Form 7161

When To Submit It?

Form SSA-7162 (Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire) typically needs to be submitted once a year, but only if the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends it to you. The form is sent to verify continued eligibility for Social Security benefits if you live outside the United States.

Key Timing Details:

1. Mailing Period:

• The SSA usually mails this form to beneficiaries abroad in May or June each year.

1. Submission Deadline:

• You must complete, sign, and return the form within 60 days of receiving it. If the SSA does not receive it within that timeframe, your benefits may be suspended until the form is received and processed.

1. Late Submissions:

• If you miss the deadline, you should still complete and return the form as soon as possible to reinstate your benefits.

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Important Notes:

• Not All Beneficiaries Receive It Annually:
• The SSA may not send this form every year to all beneficiaries. However, you should always respond if you receive it.
• Methods to Submit:
• Return the form using the pre-addressed envelope provided.
• If no envelope is provided or you’re unsure, you can mail the form to the SSA’s Office of International Operations (or the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your country).
• Electronic Option:
• SSA does not currently offer an online option for submitting this form; it must be returned by mail.

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If you haven’t received the form and suspect an issue, you should contact the SSA or your local U.S. embassy to reinstate your benefits. Send an email to Federal Benefits Unit including your name, Social Security Number, telephone number, and a brief explanation of your issue. A Social Security representative will contact you by phone to assist you with completing the form:

If you live inCd. de México, Edo. de Méx., Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Campeche, Querétaro, Veracruz, Guerrero, Tlaxcala, Michoacán, Morelos, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Yucatán, Puebla, Quintana Roo and Tabasco, please email: [email protected]

If you live in Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, Sinaloa, Baja California Sur, Aguascalientes and Zacatecas, please email: [email protected]

If you live in : Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, and Durango, please email: [email protected] 

Losing Social Security Payments When Moving Abroad

It’s easy to get confused about how Social Security payments work, especially with the different types of benefits and the extra steps required when living outside the United States.

The confusion often comes from mixing up Social Security retirement benefits with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) along with viral content claiming that “all social security benefits will be suspended!”

Don’t get confused.. and get the facts.

If you’re receiving retirement benefits and living abroad, you are still eligible to receive payments as long as you submit the required “proof of life” form (Form SSA-7162) when requested.

Failure to return this form could result in your payments being suspended, as highlighted in a notice from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico here.

However, if you’re on SSI and leave the U.S. for more than 30 days, your benefits will stop and won’t resume until you’ve been back in the U.S. for 30 consecutive days. The misunderstanding that all Social Security benefits stop when moving abroad is common, but it’s simply not true.

We always double-check the information directly with the Social Security Administration, and refer to their official website to stay up to date: ssa.gov. We do not rely on random people on the internet giving people false advice.

We suggest everyone do the same. Don’t leave your brains at the border. ☺️