Part of our direct deposit is in US so we watch it online. IMHO cutting off sustenance for retired workers is beyond sadistic. We receive or not mailings every 3-4 months. Last year we received forms with red ink stating 'failure to reply' so we returned them by LBC and never heard back. We hadn't received any of the forms in question and often forms for 1 or more of us never arrive. Postal mail is obsolete, the Embassy sends us regular email; Internet or phone contact would make more sense. Is the 'mailer' return system another pork barrel project protected by US politicians, like the unwanted tanks still being built? We've dealt with the contract workers at the Embassy, urgency is unknown to them. Their number is listed as 63 2 301-2000 extension 9. The SSA website provides this: International Operations - Contact Us By Phone
I just received form OMb no. 0960-0049 from the social security. Is this the same form you guys got? The problem is it says it is the Second Request and dated Oct 05, 2014. On the back of the envelope it is stamped received in Bais October 22. I just got it today Dec 1st. The guy behind the desk at the post office said the delivery guy had been carring it around in his bag since October. I have stopped in several times to see if I had anything from SS. It said, Important: failure to complete and return this form within 60 days will result in suspension of benefits. I have never been able to get anyone on the phone in Manila Any advice to speed this up would be welcomed. Thanks
Plrbrad, I have had this problem for the last two years. My SS is stopped in March. So thanks for the heads up. I have not received a piece of mail in the Philippines since I arrived over three years ago so I get this problem every year. The form you are talking about is the form they want - OMb no. 0960-0049 I have had good results getting my SS restored within days working with a lady, Mellissa N. Ramos, in SS Manila. She has sent me the form, let me fill out the form, scan it and send it by email to her. She has a 3 to 5 days to respond and will most likely take the whole time... just try not to panic. Here contact information is as follows. Just explain your situation to her. Obviously she can remotely reinstate your benefits. Mellissa N. Ramos | Claims Examiner | Social Security Administration American Embassy Manila | 1201 Roxas Boulevard Ermita 0930 Manila, Philippines Phone: +63 2-301 2607 | Fax: +63 2-708 9714 or +63 2-708 9723 | website: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ I think I have talked to her on the phone but I usually communicate with her by email. FYI: SS system access is limited up to 12:30pm only on Mondays (maybe all days of week) Social Security Information: Toll-Free:1-800-772-1213 (forget this method) Hours of Operation for online services · Weekdays 5 AM - 1 AM Eastern Time (ET) · Saturday 5 AM - 11 PM ET · Sunday 8 AM - 11:30 PM ET · Holidays 5 AM - 1 AM ET Good Luck... please post your results so others can avoid getting cut off. I will start to resolve the issue early this year for my account. The people are nice, just work on their own pace.
I am new here, but just to let you all know this is invaluable info for someone like me looking at retirement options -- so thank you!
Just a follow up: I did contact SS earlier this year to see if I got the luck of the draw of having to fill out the OMb no. 0960-0049 form. They took a little more time than normal, about a week, but notified me that I was not required to fill on the form this year as I had the last two years. It seems like it was a "random" draw every year. Until they stop your SS you do not know you are a "victim" of the draw, then you do not know what month your name come up for cut off. I knew when they would cut me off so I contacted them about 45 days before they typically cut me off. I keep the records on my computer so I know what is happening and when. It is very help, and feels good if you can get ahead of the SS a little. Just keep good records and your head up, they are nice people, but need attending to at times. @pkrbrad @jimneda
When you mail that form back to the U S Send via LBC express registered it cost 1500p but is worth it as I have had the same problem before..Takes about 7-10 days for them to recieve it and has to be signed..also LBC has a tracking to let you know they recieved it....
You don't have to contact the SS office at the embassy for the "proof of life" form (SSA-7162), you can d/l it yourself and send it wherever you like. As for returning it via LBC to the US; it goes to a P.O. box - LBC, in general, will not deliver to anything except a street address so I have to LBC it to a friend in the US and he puts a stamp on it and sends it. A real pia. If others have found a way around this I would appreciate hearing. I received the form the prev 2 years but haven't received one yet this year. I agree it's best to keep your US address with SS but not an option for me since I have a dependent collecting and they had an interview, home visit, etc.
Following are the U.S. SSA street addresses. Please keep in mind that the SSA office at the U.S. Embassy Manila can assist you with most issues. I deal directly with them when my benefits are cut off because I never received the annual form to fill out in the mail system. US Social Security Administration www.socialsecurity.gov Google+ page 2125 N Pennsylvania Ave Independence, KS, United States (877) 512-3855 US Social Security Administration plus.google.com Google+ page 900 Leisure Ln Bartlesville, OK, United States US Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov 2108 Denver Harner Dr Miami, OK, United States (888) 878-0013
Agreed that's the best way. By phone or email? They used to only answer the phone between 2pm-4pm. I haven't had to contact them for at least a couple years, is that still so?