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Social Security Administration

On Monday, May 22, 2023, the Manila Central Post Office caught fire and the building suffered extensive damage. As a result of the fire, we anticipate that postal service in Manila will be significantly delayed. Until postal service is fully restored, we recommend that clients send correspondence to our office via courier service. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

If you did not receive your monthly Social Security payment this month, your benefits have likely been suspended because we did not receive the annual questionnaire form that was mailed to you.

To reinstate your benefit payments, you will need to print and complete one of the forms listed below.

  • If you are a Social Security beneficiary, please complete Form SSA-7162
  • If you are the Representative Payee for a beneficiary, please complete Form SSA-7161

When completing the form, please ensure that you include your complete name, address, contact number, SSN and sign the form. Once signed, mail the completed form to:

         Social Security Administration
         ATTN: FEQ
         U.S. Embassy
         1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita
         Manila, Philippines 0930

Once we receive the completed form, we will take immediate action to reinstate benefits. Any past due benefits will be directly deposited into your bank account, usually within 7-10 business days. Thank you.

Overview

The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Manila provides services for the Social Security Administration (SSA) and other federal benefit agencies to customers in the Philippines and over 40 other countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. Please refer to SSA’s website  for a list of countries and the location of their servicing Federal Benefits Unit.

The FBU is unable to answer inquiries related to visas, passports, registrations of birth, voting, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Please visit the Embassy Sections and Agencies page for assistance in contacting the appropriate section.

All services provided are free of charge and include:

  • Taking claims for various types of Social Security benefits, including retirement, survivors, disability and lump sum death payment
  • Processing applications for new or replacement Social Security cards
  • Processing post-entitlement issues, including the Annual Report Form (SSA-7161 or SSA-7162), change of address, direct deposit enrollment, and non-receipt of benefit checks
  • Resolving earnings discrepancies
  • Assisting with Medicare enrollment and termination

For answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our FAQ page. For general information on Social Security, please visit www.SocialSecurity.gov.

Social Security Online Services (mySocialSecurity)

Previously, you needed a U.S. mailing address to access Social Security’s free mySocialSecurity account and use our online services. Now, many people without a U.S. mailing address can create a personal mySocialSecurity, account and use the online services with an ID.me credential. If you don’t already have an ID.me credential, the following are the steps to create one:

  1. Go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount 
  2. On the my Social Security page, select the “Create an Account” button and then select “Sign in with ID.me.”
  3. Select the “Create an ID.me account” link and follow the instructions.
  4. On ID.me’s “Verify Your Identity” screen, select the “I don’t live in the United States” link at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions to complete the registration process.
  5. Once you create your credential, you will be returned to the mySocialSecurity webpage for next steps.

If you already have an ID.me credential, select “Sign In” from the mySocialSecurity page and then sign in using ID.me. You will be redirected to your mySocialSecurity account.

Note: If you had a mySocialSecurity account prior to moving overseas, you will need to create an ID.me credential to use it from an international address.

Once you have created your personal my Social Security account, you will be able to:

  • Check your earnings
  • Get your benefit estimates
  • Check the status of your application or appeal
  • View, print, or save a benefit verification letter (Social Security is unable to mail to a foreign address)
  • Change Special Notice Options (SNO Notices)
  • Access some representative payee services
  • View, print, or save a replacement SSA-1099/1042S tax statement (Social Security is unable to mail replacement statements to a foreign address)
  • Access online notices
  • Request a replacement Medicare Card

Some services are not available outside of the United States, including:

  • Changing your address
  • Changing your direct deposit
  • Requesting a replacement Social Security card

Contact Us

Email

You may contact us in a variety of ways, but the most efficient way is to contact us via our FBU Inquiry Form. We generally respond within fifteen (15) business days from the date of receipt.

To assist you with your concerns, we may ask for your Social Security Number (SSN), your date of birth and/or banking information. Providing this information is optional; however, we may need this information to answer your questions and fully assist you.

Phone

You may call us at +632-5301-2000 (Option 3, after selecting your preferred language) from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Manila Time) every Tuesday and Thursday, except on U.S. and Philippine Holidays.

In-Office Appointments

To ensure the health and safety of our clients and staff, our in-person services are limited to appointment only. Currently, appointments are available on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. To schedule an appointment, please contact us using our FBU Inquiry Form and we will contact you to schedule the appointment. Please note that electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, laptops, etc.) are not allowed inside the Embassy.

Facsimile or Postal Mail

You may send your inquiry via fax to +632-8708-9714 or write to us at the following address:

 Mailing Address:
U.S. Embassy – Manila
Social Security Administration
1201 Roxas Boulevard
Manila, Philippines 0930

 

IMPORTANT:

For OPM annuitants, we provide general services such as direct deposit enrollment, reporting of death and appointment of a Representative Payee. For all other services, please email OPM directly at retire@opm.gov. For more information about OPM, you may visit their website at www.opm.gov .

For veterans living overseas, please visit VA’s website  for more information.