[Foos Research]

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.

 

[retif]

You can now send 7162 directly to Manila

me

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.
***
Note - I just sent my SSA 7162 thru local LBC office with tracking, cost was 227.00 Pesos

 

[M.C.A.]

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.

 

[M.C.A.]

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.

 

[retif]

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.

 

[Howard_Z]

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.

 

[Gary D]

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.

 

[M.C.A.]

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.

 

[HK Blues]

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.

There are a few but most require internet.