Safeguard your U.S. Social Security while living abroad

Editor’s note: This the first in a series of 3 articles covering the most important things you want to know about collecting your U.S. Social Security while living in Ecuador.

By Carolyn V. Hamilton

3 things you must know about collecting your social security when you live abroad

You’re a senior considering a move to Ecuador, or you are already here and have established legal residency.

How will your monthly Social Security payment be affected by your new life abroad?

If you plan to collect your Social Security benefits while living abroad, here are three crucial things you want to know.

1 – How your legal address will affect your relationship with the Social Security Administration
As a U.S. citizen, when you move to Ecuador you have the choice of continuing to receive your monthly check at any U.S. bank or having the Social Security Administration deposit it into an Ecuadorean bank.

For example, Banco Guayaquil and Produbanco have arrangements with the U.S. government to accept direct deposits of U.S. Social Security transfers.

For those choosing to continue to have their checks deposited into a U.S. account, accessing your funds is as simple as stepping out the door with your debit card and walking to a nearby ATM.

ATM withdrawals, however, can be subject to a foreign transaction fee. Often, before you complete your withdrawal, you will see a window asking you to approve the fee, in Ecuador currently about $4. Most US banks do not reimburse foreign transaction fees.

Many expats object to paying this fee. Yet there can be workarounds.

For instance, a few U.S. credit banks and unions will reimburse the fee. You can shop around online to find them.

Some expats choose to open a Charles Schwab account because their debit card offers unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide for cash withdrawals.

Not wanting to deal with ATM foreign transaction fees is a major reason expats choose to have their social security checks deposited directly into an Ecuadorean bank account.

2 – About the Proof of Life form
If you elect to have your Social Security check deposited directly into an Ecuadorean bank account, the U.S. government will want you to annually prove you are alive.

This form for expats living in Ecuador is called the Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire (FEQ), also known as SSA-7162. This form is used to confirm the continued life of a Social Security recipient with a mailing address in Ecuador.

SSA says you can download this form here:

The form will ask you to include your name, address (including city, province, and zip code), social security number, date and signature. You will need to print the form, as it will require an original signature because electronic or digital signatures are not accepted.

You can submit your completed physical form to the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) by mail, a reliable shipping method such as DHL, or in person.

Here’s the mailing address:

Social Security Administration
Wilkes Barre Data Operations Center
Attention: FEQ Analyst, FEQ Forms 7161-7162
1150 E. Mountain Dr.
Room 341
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702-79973

Whether you mail your document from within the U.S. or from Ecuador, you’ll want to pay to certify the mail so that you can track and confirm receipt.

The Social Security Administration typically mails this form to you in May or June of Each year. Good luck with receiving this if your only mailing address is here in Ecuador; Ecuador does not have the same speedy mail delivery we are accustomed to in the U.S.

If you haven’t received your form in more than a year, you should contact the U.S. Consulate or the Social Security Administration directly to be sure you’re using the most up-to-date version of the form.

If you don’t remember to submit this form annually, the SSA may suspend your Social Security benefit.

It’s all about communication.

You’ll want to keep the SSA informed of any changes in your residency to ensure continued eligibility for your benefits.

Some changes that could impact your benefits include a change of address, a change of marital status, a change in disability status, and employment outside the U.S. The Social Security Administration will want to know.

For more detailed guidance, you can go to the SSA’s Office of International Operations website here: https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-benefits-u-s-citizens-outside-the-united-states/

3 – The benefits of establishing an online account for yourself with the Social Security Administration
Today it’s easy to monitor and manage your Social Security activity online.

You can do this by establishing an online account at ssa.gov.

There you can verify your earnings history, view estimates of future benefits, and manage all your personal details. You can opt for digital delivery of notices, so you won’t have to rely on any snail mail system.

There’s also the matter of privacy and security. By registering your account, you block others from fraudulently creating one in your name, even if they have your social security number. This greatly reduces the risk of identity theft.

In a subsequent article, I’ll share with you in detail the steps you need to take accomplish this so that you can monitor easily your status with Social Security at any time.

By following these steps and maintaining open communication with the SSA, you can ensure uninterrupted receipt of your Social Security benefits while living here in Ecuador.
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Carolyn V, Hamilton is a best-selling, award-winning, multi-genre author who spent several decades in Las Vegas in the real world of “Mad Men.” She was also the founder of the regional magazine, “Nevada Woman.” She is currently celebrating her 13th year as an expat in Cuenca.