Social Security Administration
SSA & FBU Services for Retirees in Korea
SSA & FBU Services for Retirees in Korea
April 28, 2024
When can I start collecting Social Security? How do I apply? Can I still work while collecting Social Security? Where is the closest Social Security Administration office to me? How do I get my foreign national spouse a Social Security Number? Will my foreign spouse get my Social Security benefits after I die?
So many questions... Read On!
That's right, there is not a Social Security office in Korea, or anywhere else in the Pacific for that matter EXCEPT at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. Your primary in-person or direct contact for Social Security matters with the Pacific region is the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Federal Benefits Unit (FBU} offices located in the U.S. Embassy, Manila Philippines.
Social Security Administration (SSA) in the U.S. Embassy, Manila Philippines can be found online at https://ph.usembassy.gov/social-security-administration. This office serves the entire Pacific (contact info). You can also go to SSA.gov online at https://www.ssa.gov/ (contact info).
Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Manila operates on an appointment-only system. To schedule an appointment or to obtain information, please go to their Inquiries Form web page (below) and fully complete the inquiry form and specify your request in the remarks. If you would like to request an appointment, FBU staff will reply to you to confirm your appointment date and time. Please ensure that your contact information is accurate and complete. Remember, this office is in the Philippines
Contact Information for the SSA office in the U.S. Embassy, Manila, Philippines
U.S. Embassy Manila
Social Security Administration
1201 Roxas Boulevard
Ermita, Philippines 0930
Phone: +63-2-5301-6200
FAX: +63-2-8708-9714
Email: FBU.Manila@ssa.gov
Mailing Address
U.S. Embassy – Manila
Unit 8600 Box 1610
DPO AP 96515-1610
Hours:
0800-1100
Tuesdays & Thursdays only
Closed holidays
In-Office Appointments:
To request an appointment use their FBU Inquiry Form
Websites:
SSA, Manila ph.usembassy.gov/services/social-security
FBU, Manila https://ph.usembassy.gov/services/fbu-inquiry-form/
My Social Security is a free and secure my Social Security account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether you receive benefits or not. You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits you already receive.
There are three (3) milestones to consider for starting to collect your Social Security payments: When you turn age 62, at full retirement age, or at a delayed age.
From a Social Security standpoint, you can start getting benefits as early as age 62, which would be the lowest payment possible of your SS benefit. Or you can delay retirement up to age 70 for your maximum monthly benefit amount. Between these ages you have a fully qualified retirement age, which is different for everyone based on the year you were born. Which of these options you choose is an individual choice you must make based on your situation. All have pros and cons. Here is an excellent article from SSA on their website The Best Age for YOU to Retire https://blog.ssa.gov/the-best-age-for-you-to-retire/
Once you have determined when you want your benefits to begin (age 62, full retirement age, or delayed age), and are ready to apply, go to the Social Security Administration website https://www.ssa.gov/apply.
You will need a my Social Security account from https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ to apply. The website walks you through the fairly easy process, which follows these basic steps below:
Use the Online Social Security Number Application to apply for a Social Security Number
Yes, when you turn 62, but there is a penalty if you have not yet reached your Full Retirement age. You will end up paying more back into SS than you receive, basically nullifying your benefit.
Login to your My Social Security account and follow the instructions to Replace Card
If you have a U.S. mailing address to include APO, FPO, & DPO addresses, which most retirees in Korea do have, you can start your Social Security number (SSN) card application online at https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/. Once you've submitted your request, contact the SSA office in the Philippines for additional guidance in completing your application.
Social Security for foreign spouses, is very convoluted and in some cases hard to figure out. Every case is different, But basically, if the spouse is of the qualified age of 60 and has lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years, then the spouse would qualify. The amount received is based on your work record and begins at 70%. The spouse will also have to spend a minimum of 1 month in US every 6 months. If spouse is outside the U.S. for more than 6 months, then payments are suspended until a return and does the 30 days again.
Read more in this SSA booklet Your Payments While Your Are Outside the U.S. https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf
When your the sponsor files for retirement benefits, your spouse may be eligible for a benefit based on your earnings. Read more on this SSA page https://www.ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/spouse.html which includes a calculator to tell you the effect of early retirement on your spousal benefit.
If you need a number for tax purposes and you are not authorized to work in the United States, you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
An ITIN is a tax processing number only available for certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who cannot get a Social Security Number (SSN). It is a 9-digit number, beginning with the number "9", formatted like an SSN (NNN-NN-NNNN).
To obtain an ITIN, you must complete IRS Form W-7, IRS Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The Form W-7 requires documentation substantiating foreign/alien status and true identity for each individual. You may either:
To learn more about the processes and requirements in applying for an ITIN go to the ITIN page of the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin
You can use the IRS’s Interactive Tax Assistant tool to help determine if you should file an application to receive an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
Social Security Administration
Data Operations Center
Attn: SSA-7162 Process
1150 E. Mountain Drive, Room 341
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18767-7162
Commonly referred to as the "still alive" form, the Annual Report Form SSA-7162 is mailed out to every SS beneficiary living outside of the U.S. to the address the SSA has on file, to confirm they still qualify for benefits. The form is mailed out in June every year (First Notice). If SSA does not receive it back completed a Second Notice is mailed out in October the same year. If SSA does not receive your completed form, they will stop SS benefits.
The 7162 form that SSA mails you will prefilled with the name and address information they have on file. If there are no changes to the data on the form, it's a matter of just checking a couple boxes and signing it. If you are unable to sign your name, have a witness sign it in the signature block provided. Then mail it back in the envelope they sent with the form that is preaddressed to the Wilkes-Barre office. The form goes back to the SSA Office in Wilkes-Barre, PA, NOT THE PHILIPPINES.
If for some reason you must address your own envelop, use the Social Security Administration U.S. Address in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
If you do use the address to the SSA Office in Manila Philippines, have no fear, your form SHOULD still make it back to Wilkes-Barre, because the Manila office forwards them back to the Social Security Administration U.S. in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The Manila SSA website says they "process" the forms, but what that really means is they forward it. Read more below.
The Manila SSA office does little with the 7162 form processing.
When you get the form in the mail (assuming you do get it) the return envelope included is to Wilkes-Barre. If for whatever reason you send in the form without a return envelope, i.e. download it and send it in, you should always use the Wilkes-Barre address.
If you send a form to the Manila SSA they do nothing but forward it on to Wilkes-Barre. They do not process anything. If you have contacted them about payment stoppage, they will assist you, but they are still only performing liaison actions with Wilkes-Barre. They don't update or process anything.
Something that does not occur, but I think should, in this process is that SSA should send a confirmation email that actually received your submission. If you get a Second Notice, well yes that pretty much proves they didn't get the first one, but after sending the 2nd form we just don't know until SSA stops payment. The rule of thumb should be, if you get a 2nd notice (usually comes in Oct), send it to Wilkes-Barre and follow up with an email to Manila after a couple weeks to check your status.
If you DO NOT receive a form in the mail, BUT you know you should, you can download a blank form, fill it in, and mail it to the Social Security Administration U.S. in Wilkes-Barre, PA office.
Read more on the SSA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) page https://ph.usembassy.gov/services/social-security/faq/
To logon to SSA.gov you must have either a:
Go to:
You can use your personal my Social Security account to request a replacement Social Security number (SSN) card online if you:
Go To my Social Security
Visit the Social Security Number and Card webpage and answer a few questions to find out the best way to apply for your corrected card. If you are unable to use the SSA online application, you will need to complete an Application for a Social Security Card and show SSA the required documents. To get an SSN card with a corrected name, you will likely need to provide evidence of your identity, your new legal name, and name change event. You also may need to prove your current U.S. citizenship or lawful noncitizen status.
