Form SSA-7162, REPORT TO THE UNITED STATES SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

7 May 2020 Email from Commander Sostack to Post Members

Got this from Bert just a while ago and this one is very important for anyone who no longer has a stateside address on file with Social Security… This requirement has always been a big pain in the butt for most of us because there’s no way that I know of to get Social Security to ever verify that they received it and Wilkes Barre, where you normally send this to, and the International Office in Baltimore don’t talk to each other.. Glad to see that we now have another way to file this and be able to do it by Email… I don’t know how many people Bert got this out to but I recommend that this email and the information in it gets maximum exposure to everyone… Byron.. If you would please include this information in our monthly mailout to all Post members and also post it on our facebook page… Joel.. Recommend that we post this on our website as well… I don’t know about any of the other Posts out there but, here in Korat, we’ve had a number of members and Vets who have had their Social Security checks stopped because Social Security has claimed that they never got this form from them.. I’ve been in a running fire fight with both Wilkes Barre and Baltimore over this issue for the last 5 years… Maybe… Just maybe that we now have an alternative method of submitting this form we can put an end to this annual game played by Social Security…

Live Long and Prosper… So Say We All…

Eddie

7 May 2020 Email from Bert Marohl to VFW Members

If you have an overseas address on file with the Social Security Administration each year they send you a Form SSA-7162 to validate your existence. This year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic all international mail service was suspended in March. Knowing the reliability of the Thai postal system and not wanting my SS benefits to stop I contacted the SS Office in Manila to see if they have implemented an alternative method of submitting the Form SSA-7162 this year.

I received the following reply:

Thank you for contacting the Social Security Administration's Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

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Good day. You may complete the attached Form SSA 7162. Scan and email this to our office in .pdf format.

Social Security Administration – Federal Benefits Unit

Address: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 0930 Manila, Philippines

Inquiry Line: (+63 2) 5301-2000, Option 9

Telephone Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays - 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Manila Time), except U.S. and Philippine Holidays

Public Hours: Monday through Friday - 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, except U.S. and Philippine Holidays and the first Wednesday of every month.*

*NOTE: electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, laptops, etc.) are not allowed inside the U.S. Embassy.

Return the completed form to the following address FBU.Manila@ssa.gov

I would also make a comment in the remarks block similar to this; Date, Submitted to FBU, Manila because of current state of emergency.

Form SSA-7162 attached

Bert

AFTN Memorial Post 10249

Udon, Thailand