Surprise, I received my proof of life form today (first time) but I might opt to mail it instead of go through trying to contact the US Embassy, I haven't decided yet, the big negative is the DHL fee of 3179 pesos.

I started receiving my SS benefits last year November "Thank you Heavenly Father" with back pay from my birthday in June.

 

Surprise, I received my proof of life form today (first time) but I might opt to mail it instead of go through trying to contact the US Embassy, I haven't decided yet, the big negative is the DHL fee of 3179 pesos.

I started receiving my SS benefits last year November (thank you Heavenly Father) with back pay from my birthday in June.

Got mine today delivered by postman. Mailed from US July 31st - arrived at my door Sept 8th. (Tarlac Province) That is 39 days transit time. From my experience it is nearly impossible to reach FBU Manila by phone to do a signature attestation for SSA 7162. I will mail it via DHL to the Currier address in Wilkes Barrie.

 

Mine has not been posted after mailing 8 August, so it must be a mess at Wilkes-Barre. So, now we are able to register the 7162 by phone to an agent using the new attestation method. I spent almost two hours late at night on the 800 number trying to get this done and was still not sure it got posted. The lady was nice, but seemed to be in doubt, though I believe all she need to do was hit the submit button. Instead, call 410 965 0160 since people are getting faster and better results there. Phone reps may not yet be trained on this, so have them look up the POM number and procedure. I'm going to have to try again tonight. To view the POM, go here...

Attestation POM and procedure: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/08272025080205PM


Al Foos

 

Mine has not been posted after mailing 8 August, so it must be a mess at Wilkes-Barre. So, now we are able to register the 7162 by phone to an agent using the new attestation method. I spent almost two hours late at night on the 800 number trying to get this done and was still not sure it got posted. The lady was nice, but seemed to be in doubt, though I believe all she need to do was hit the submit button. Instead, call 410 965 0160 since people are getting faster and better results there. Phone reps may not yet be trained on this, so have them look up the POM number and procedure. I'm going to have to try again tonight. To view the POM, go here...

Attestation POM and procedure: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/08272025080205PM


Al Foos

You can now send 7162 directly to Manila

 

While I was at DHL today mailing my first 7162 form, (3,150 pesos) another guy also entered after me and was there to mail his 7162 document.

The DHL representative shared that in this region of Laguna or Los Banos Laguna, several US Expats recently have been mailing their proof of life forms.

 

You can now send 7162 directly to Manila

 

You can now send 7162 directly to Manila

 

Ken, is there a link (new process) from the US Embassy in Manila or you address to Federal Benefits Unit?

Last year when I applied for SS they needed me to mail by courier the bank account routing information but they never received it, I sent it twice from Sta Rosa Laguna (a 90 minute travel both ways for me) so not too far from Manila, there was panic because I was also given a deadline to get this done but hadn't heard anything, so I emailed only to find out that they didn't have my bank routing information I'm thinking the mail was backed up or stuck in another office because the tracking showed it was delivered, anyway I ended up sending in our email conversation a scanned copy and then calling the Embassy just one day before my deadline.

My proof of life form was sent to me in July but I got it yesterday Sept 9 and it states that I have 60 days to get this finished.

For sure there needs to be a quicker and more affordable way to get this done, next year I'll try the Embassy, it's such a new process that I didn't want to mess with it, even the other expat I met yesterday at DHL was agonizing about the 3000 peso mailing charge.

 

Last night I called the 410 965 0160 number and this time the agent said she was unable to tell me if received or not as used to be the case, or if the attestation last Thursday went through. So, it took 25 minutes to get through and we did the attestation procedure again. Then my disabled friend had to do hers. We ended just short of an hour instead of almost 2 hours using the 800 number. By the way, there is no SUBMIT button. The agent has to put you on hold for about ten minutes and email it from her Wilkes-Barre office to another Wilkes-Barre office, then tell you the process is finished. It ought to be foolproof, but they can't really tell you if anyone actually reads the email or posts it. So, knock on wood. If you think this is easier than 2 minutes to fill in a form and a trip to the post office, then we're not on the same planet. But we do what we have to. Manila failed to respond to my email for confirmation, but a friend is going to call them this morning.

 

I could have mailed it by courier because I had already scanned everything and if it got lost I could have sent it in a conversation to them like I had to do already with my banking information, I use the free application CamScanner and then save important documents online with the Google Drive.

Good links and thanks again Retif. I went ahead and updated the information you posted on our Useful Links for Expats sticky.

 

I got this today from the State Department:



How to Submit Your Annual Report to the Social Security Administration

This is an important message from the Social Security Administration’s Federal Benefits Unit (FBU).

Due to the suspension of certain mail services to the United States, beneficiaries who received the Annual Report Form (SSA-7161 or SSA-7162) should send their completed form to the Social Security Administration’s Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Manila instead.

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



The mailing address is:

Social Security Administration

U.S. Embassy – Manila

Attention: FEQ

1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita

Manila, Philippines 0930



IMPORTANT: SSA must receive the actual form completed and signed. They cannot accept scanned, emailed, or faxed copies of the form. SSA also recommends sending the completed form via courier service with tracking capability so that you can verify the delivery on your end.

For additional assistance, please contact the FBU directly via e-mail at FBU.Manila@ssa.gov.

_

For further information and assistance:
· See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Advisories, Alerts, and the Philippines Country Specific Information.
· Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
· Contact the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines, located at 1201 Roxas Boulevard, at +(63) (2) 5301-2000, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +(63) (2) 5301-2000.
· Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
· Follow us on X and Facebook.

 

Just got this in email from FBU Manila, so don't bother to call FBU for proof of life attestation !!! Anybody know the problems and cost associated with calling stateside to do this ??

Due to workload constraints, FBU Manila is unable to attest the annual report form by phone at this time. If you wish to have the form attested by phone, please call the Social Security Administration’s International Call Center at +1-410-965-0160 between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM U.S. Eastern Standard Time. You will need to pay for the call because Social Security currently does not have a toll-free service for calls from outside the U.S.

 

Due to workload constraints, FBU Manila is unable to attest the annual report form by phone at this time. If you wish to have the form attested by phone, please call the Social Security Administration’s International Call Center at +1-410-965-0160 between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM U.S. Eastern Standard Time. You will need to pay for the call because Social Security currently does not have a toll-free service for calls from outside the U.S.

Thank you Retif, and it makes sense because our US Embassy already struggles to handle services, like I mentioned earlier I had to call to send my bank information because even though my letter was received they didn't get it or it's in a huge letter pile so for our Embassy to process thousands of more mailed in letters they can't.

Gary has the lowest cost plan but keep in mind this is something fairly new so the SSA in the US might have hiccups also.

Now I'm feeling better that I mailed in both my wife's and my proof of life forms (but not happy about the 3000 peso fee x 2) through DHL until this gets worked out, I was notified by DHL a couple days ago that the SSA letter mailed was delivered, so less than a week delivery timeline.

 

In USA I pay around $20 USD per month (one year plan) to US Mobile for their "Annual Unlimited Starter" plan on the AT&T network which US Mobile calls Darkstar. In USA I get unlimited 70GB data(if I recall correctly).
When in Philippines, every month, I will get 1GB data, 200 minutes of calls, and 250 texts using my USA phone number. I also use Wi-Fi calling.

I will see how well it works during my next visit to Philippines. I am not currently receiving social security, but I will try calling relatives in USA.

But, for someone living full time in Philippines, and has no use for for USA cell service, I am not aware of a free or low cost way to call the USA.

 

In USA I pay around $20 USD per month (one year plan) to US Mobile for their "Annual Unlimited Starter" plan on the AT&T network which US Mobile calls Darkstar. In USA I get unlimited 70GB data(if I recall correctly).
When in Philippines, every month, I will get 1GB data, 200 minutes of calls, and 250 texts using my USA phone number. I also use Wi-Fi calling.

I will see how well it works during my next visit to Philippines. I am not currently receiving social security, but I will try calling relatives in USA.

But, for someone living full time in Philippines, and has no use for for USA cell service, I am not aware of a free or low cost way to call the USA.

Globe has a bolt-on for 199 pesos that gives about 40 mins calls to the USA valid for 1 month.