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Why Some Americans’ Social Security Benefits May Have Been Suspended
U.S. Embassies in a handful of countries have issued critical notices to Americans abroad regarding suspended Social Security payments.
Per an official notification published by the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, “If you did not receive your February benefit payment, your benefits have been suspended.” Notifications have also been sent out to those living in Haiti and Mexico within the past two weeks.
Suspensions impact Americans who receive Social Security and have an address outside the U.S.
Newsweek reached out to Federal Benefits Units (FBUs) in Costa Rica, Haiti and Mexico for comment via email on Monday.
Why It Matters
For many Americans living abroad, Social Security benefits are a crucial source of income. According to December 2023 data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), upwards of 700,000 Social Security beneficiaries live in foreign countries. The suspension could pose financial hardships to thousands if not addressed promptly, with approximately 59,000 beneficiaries living in Mexico and 2,000 living in Costa Rica.
What to Know
According to the notices, individual suspensions occurred because the required Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire was not received by the appropriate Federal Benefits Unit. This form is needed each year to confirm eligibility for payments abroad.
The suspension of Social Security payments due to unsubmitted questionnaires is not unheard of. Similar instances have occurred in the past, indicating an ongoing challenge rather than a new or isolated event.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Who May Have Had Payments Suspended?
Americans whose official address on record is outside the United States and who did not submit their required Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire are affected.
Specifically, those who receive payments in their own name must submit form SSA-7162, and those with a representative payee, or who are a representative payee, need to submit form SSA-7161.
Per one embassy website, “If you don’t return this form by January 2025, you will not receive a benefit payment beginning February 2025.”
Note that not all Americans living abroad are immediately affected by this suspension. Individuals under 90 years old who receive their own benefits and whose Social Security Number (SSN) ends in 50 to 99 do not need to submit a Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire; they will receive a form to complete and return between June and July 2025. Additionally, those whose official address on record is in the United States, despite being abroad temporarily, are not required to respond to this notice.
How to Know If Your Social Security Payments Were Suspended
If you did not receive your Social Security payment for February, your benefits have likely been suspended. Social Security payments for February 2025 started to go out on January 31, 2025, with the last payments issued on February 28, 2025.
What to Do If Social Security Payments Were Suspended
Affected individuals can reinstate their benefits by contacting the Federal Benefits Unit associate with their country:
Costa Rica: The unit can be contacted by phone at 506-2519-2228 from Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., or by email at FBU.CostaRica@ssa.gov.
Haiti: The unit can be contacted by phone at 809-368-7011 from Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., or by email at FBU.Santo.Domingo@ssa.gov.
Mexico: Each of the three units can be contacted by email at FBU.Mexico.CITY@SSA.GOV, FBU.Guadalajara@ssa.gov and FBU.Ciudad.Juarez@ssa.gov. To learn which unit to contact, click here.
Beneficiaries are required to submit the appropriate Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire or confirm their compliance. Once the unit receives the necessary documentation, benefits are expected to be reinstated within approximately seven business days.
What People Are Saying
According to a May 2023 publication by the Social Security Administration: “We send questionnaires to persons receiving social security benefits (or their representative payees) outside the United States every year or every 2 years. Your answers will help us determine if you are still eligible for benefits… If you do not receive your questionnaire when you are supposed to, you should contact the Social Security Administration or your FBU.”
Note that those living in Costa Rica receive questionnaires every two years.
What Happens Next
As noted, beneficiaries can expect to see Social Security benefits reinstated within about seven business days after submitting the necessary documentation.
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