cusanus

Just take the usual advice and airmail the barcode if and when it comes.

I've seen several statements to the effect that blank forms (w/o barcode) are not accepted until the last form was still not received (by January?). If yours was accepted, that's good, but there's reason to doubt it will work. Normally, you could use last year's barcode as a template, but this year the layout of the form is different. So if it comes finally make sure to send it in just in case (after making a scan/copy) In regards to completing a blank form rather than the preprinted form with the barcode that is sent from the SSA, it is not possible at this time since they require that the form they mailed out be returned to them. The SSA will let us know when we can start completing the blank forms, which is normally after they have processed the forms returned to them and prepares a report of beneficiaries that did not comply with this requirement. At this point the beneficiary will be listed for suspension of their benefits which occurs in February/March of each year.

Maybe because the only changes you're required to report are the address and 3-4 boxes with checkmarks, not the phone. They have never called me in 15 years or the others I help out. I could put anything in the phone field and it wouldn't matter. I wager you could forget to write it in (I may have a time or two) and it wouldn't make any difference. Anyway, just having fun here, nothing to get lathered up over.

Ok, got it. Btw, I applied in 2010, not 2014. I didn't need a passport copy, just SSAN and mother's maiden. She must have given them the wrong one because she was mad at her parents, but I managed to figure it out. Don't recall the CM embassy doing stuff like that, but wouldn't have probably noticed. They will notarize anything I think, did a POA for me. The phone rep who told me about the IRS address probably was before I got benefits. So all seems well right now except a few people still waiting on the form. I don't know anyone in the Philippines.

Odd. I had to call Manila in 2014 to apply for SS. Went smoothly though I had to supply the wrong name for my mother's maiden. I made a lucky guess. I quit watching this legal.co.th site a long time ago because it was often inaccurate and inflammatory. Manila has treated me ok since then.

Some in Bangkok the 6th I think, a friend here in CM the 7th, mine the 8th, another friend the 11th...

All very good points, gentlemen, but nobody in the bureaucracy will listen to reason. We have no power and the truth has no meaning. It is not productive to examine the rapidly deteriorating state of politics in the US, but if you have any intelligence at all it is clear a madman is running things or better said taking a wrecking ball to the country and all that is decent. He is not only a prolific serial liar, but an obvious child molester, convicted rapist and thief who among other presidents was blackmailed by Epstein and Mossad with underaged girls, the result being US arms used to murder thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza. A lot of folks are suffering, but we are lectured to, not listenened to. I encourage you to give the mail system another week before contacting Manila. Sometimes things get stuck for a bit. Are you aware of Magicjack? No good for Manilla, but about $100 a year gives unlimited free calls to the US. I've used it for fifteen years, very handy.

Maybe give it another week and contact Manila by email or phone and ask what you should do. You should have had it by now. Who else hasn't gotten it?

You're probably right. I remember a phone rep telling me this, but he was likely wrong or I don't rightly recall. I've never moved since collecting SS.

Your experiences are strange to say the least. Yes, I haven't owed taxes in 20 years, either. My SS is small because I couldn't get a job that wasn't mired in child porn or in office fornication or crack cocaine. But I file a 1040 each year anyway. Rule changes may take you by surprise and next thing you owe millions in penalties and back taxes. Ok, that's extreme, but it's not much effort to do one and so I do to be on the safe side. It's like making an offering to the beast or still refusing to eat the last bite of bread because your fingers were always greasy in the 60s when working on the railroad during lunch.

The only change of address I know of on a 7162 was reflected in the next year's mailing, but a minor point of interest here. I was told, and believe it true, that if your address has changed on your most recent 1040 tax return, this is picked up and used by the SSA, so that's an easy way to make the change.

If your address on SS record is NOT in the USA, then it's sent there. If it gets forwarded to you (or not) and you're living in the USA (or not), it's your responsibility to notify the SSA of your new address with or without the form.

I think it goes in a larger envelope with a label. Opinions vary about the safest method of return. (Priority) cheap airmail has never failed me in 20 years. If you use tracking or courier I think it's best to use the physical address (see prior post) and not the PO Box on the return envelope, but again, opinions vary.

Guess I've been lucky. In 20 years never had a parcel sent or received that didn't arrive in a timely manner. The two registered letters were probably derailed because there was a debit card in them. On the other hand, a friend could not get any US government mail unless it was specifically asked for as a test and after that it went dead again. Go figure. There must be a demon attached to some folks. I'm sticking with standard (priority) cheap and easy airmail. For me, both Thai post and USPS are reliable as rain in September. Knock on wood.

Registered. I think I said I sent my daughter a letter with EMS in Jan that took three months. Actually, it was registered. The next one took six weeks, so I don't know what the problem was since tracking stopped at NY customs in both cases.