Difficulty contacting social security Manila and international operations

[steveb5]

I sent an email to social security Manila to update my new bank account but one month later no response and a second email was sent. I tried many many times calling social security international operations and no one answers. There's a toll free number for US embassy Manila but social security changed their phone number not free anymore. 

 At this point I don't know what to do anyone have any suggestions.

[exant]

 

[georgegeorgia]

On 1/21/2025 at 3:26 PM, steveb5 said:

I sent an email to social security Manila to update my new bank account but one month later no response and a second email was sent. I tried many many times calling social security international operations and no one answers. There's a toll free number for US embassy Manila but social security changed their phone number not free anymore. 

 At this point I don't know what to do anyone have any suggestions.

Maybe you could look at another special specific forum to the Philippines 

There are several I think one called Philippines expats 

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

When I changed SS Benefits from being deposited via Bangkok Bank's New York office to direct deposit to my Bangkok Bank account here, I sent a new completed SSA-1199 form to Manila FBU as an attachment to an email and I also sent the original by EMS. 

 

The FBU did not acknowledge either, but my benefits started to be direct deposited to my account here in Thailand not long thereafter. 

 

Perhaps sending a new 1199 by registered mail or EMS with a covering letter requesting the change might help.

 

 

[exant]

 

[GypsyT]

It's beyond me why to have SSA in one of the most crooked country in Asia...

 

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

It's beyond me why to have SSA in one of the most crooked country in Asia...

 

I don't get the issue.

They are operating out of the US embassy there.

Yeah employees might be Filipinos but for the Asean region, that's the location you want for English speakers.

If there are problems there with service, I would blame the U.S. government, not the host nation of the embassy. 

[exant]

FBU Manila (Social Security Administration) - DO NOT REPLY

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cm/AGPWSu-tKXB9128pe9HmrgCZTXy2VNvBQW3Rpvy8Lo6cdGhGOPJ_5BTR8pT5iLLMwyOCMEBBdg=s40-p

Jocson, Robert - FSP Manila

robert.jocson[at]ssa.gov Sat, Feb 1, 7:10 PM (3 days ago)

Thank you for contacting the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. We will respond to your inquiry within ten (10) business days. For faster service, please send e-mails only to [email protected]. E-mails sent directly to an employee’s individual address may not be answered within ten (10) business days. Also, please do not follow-up on your inquiry prior to ten (10) business days as this may further delay the processing of your inquiry.   If you have a U.S. or APO/FPO/DPO mailing address, you can also apply for your own personal mySocialSecurity account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. At this time, no other online services are available outside the United States.  https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fIKYHumsDVI/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCPYBEIoBSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLBlDMdWT5nHuyXQLlE5ykwCpDCt-w 1:01:35 1:01:35 Now playing If you have a U.S. or APO/FPO/DPO mailing address, you can also apply for your own personal mySocialSecurity account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. At this time, no other online services are available outside the United States.

[Crossy]

From an earlier post "For faster service, please send e-mails only to [email protected]"

 

Please don't post the full email list of the FBU, if it's available on an official site feel free to post a link to that site.

 

EDIT to forum rule.

 

[gamb00ler]

On 1/21/2025 at 11:26 AM, steveb5 said:

I sent an email to social security Manila to update my new bank account but one month later no response and a second email was sent. I tried many many times calling social security international operations and no one answers. There's a toll free number for US embassy Manila but social security changed their phone number not free anymore. 

 At this point I don't know what to do anyone have any suggestions.

FBU Manila staff seems to be very poorly trained and either do not understand English well or suffer from very poor reading comprehension.  My results in communicating with them have been pretty much useless.  After a long wait my email answer from them has rarely been relevant to the questions asked.  I have 3 outstanding issues with SSA, some have been ongoing for years.  Manila staff cannot seem to understand what is written in the POMS manual for SSA.

 

Now, I bypass Manila and send email directly to the Office of International Operations (OIO).  They never respond.  I follow that up with a call to the SSA 800# (800-772-1213) and the staff there tell me what's happening with my 561's.  It seems that the emails to OIO may have some effect.

 

Unfortunately, it seems that the standard IRS documentation (account transcript) that I sent with my 561 has bamboozled every SS staff that looks at it.  It seems the communication between IRS and SSA is malfunctioning.

 

Either I'm the unluckiest SS benefit recipient or the entire SSA is in a shambles.😢

 

 

[Crossy]

A post discussing moderation has been removed per forum rules.

 

 

If you feel any moderation actions are incorrect etc. please contact support[at]aseannow.com

[exant]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-economy-begins-republican-congress-120112470.html

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/89dxs4PrWwtoxgbvLOI0SA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/gobankingrates_644/ce93204ca3093143241fab3e79a6a996

[exant]

 

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Trump Economy Begins: How a Republican Congress Could Impact Those Relying on Social Security

Heather Altamirano

Sun, February 2, 2025 at 10:01 PM GMT+7 5 min read

 

 

 

 

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/89dxs4PrWwtoxgbvLOI0SA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/gobankingrates_644/ce93204ca3093143241fab3e79a6a996

WILL OLIVER / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock.com

Now that Donald Trump is back for a second presidential term, another big political shift will happen simultaneously happen post-inauguration. The Republicans now fully control Congress, which could enact new policies that can affect Social Security and some Americans’ retirement planning.

Try It: If You Rely On Social Security, Make These 4 Money Moves Now That Trump Is President-Elect

 

Discover More: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too

It’s no secret the program is in trouble and will run out of money by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office, leaving millions without their full benefits if actions aren’t taken soon.

While Trump has vowed not to cut Social Security, the new administration is expected to shake things up. The Republican Study Committee (RSC), which consists of more than 170 House GOP lawmakers, proposed a budget in early 2024 that suggested $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security over the next 10 years, and with a Republican-controlled Congress, new policies could be implemented.

Per experts, there are some changes seniors should be abreast of, especially for those who rely on Social Security.

Modifying the Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)

The cost-of-living adjustment is an increase in pay for Social Security recipients to help offset rising prices. Right now, COLA is determined by the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W). However, in the past, some Republicans have called to use the chained consumer price index (C-CPI), which typically grows slower than the CPI-W.

“For people solely dependent on Social Security, this change might mean less financial stability, especially as inflation impacts everyday expenses like groceries and healthcare,” explained Danny Ray, founder of PinnacleQuote. “Above all, any reduction or slower growth in benefits could make it harder to cover basic needs.”

 

If this change were to happen, finance expert Andrew Lokenauth and founder of TheFinanceNewsletter.com stated it could be hard times for retirees. Seniors might have “smaller yearly increases in monthly checks, struggle to keep up with rising prices, and people living only on Social Security might need to cut back on basics.”

Learn More: 3 Changes That Could Be Coming to Social Security Now That Congress Is Republican

New Tax Policies

On the campaign trail, Trump was vocal about eliminating taxes on Social Security, which would give seniors more money in their pockets, but it would cause financial troubles in the long term and accelerate insolvency by three years, per the Committee for a Responsible Federal Government.

According to Nicole E. Asher, CFP®, CPWA®, ChFC, aenior vice president and senior wealth management advisor at Greenleaf Trust, “While Social Security recipients would benefit from this cut, it would increase the issues that the trust fund faces and create greater issues for future recipients.”

In addition to no taxes on Social Security, Ray explained that other “broader potential tax policy changes, such as Congress prioritizing tax cuts, could reduce government revenue overall” and potentially affect Social Security.

 

“If Congress prioritizes tax cuts that reduce government revenue, there could be pressure to reform entitlement programs like Social Security,” he said. “This might lead to reduced benefits or stricter eligibility requirements. Such changes could disproportionately affect individuals without other income sources, leaving them more vulnerable.”

Medicare Integration

This year, Medicare Part B premiums are expected to rise by 5.9%, while the Social Security COLA will only increase by 2.5%. According to Lokenauth, “This means that a portion of the COLA increase will be absorbed by the higher Medicare premiums, potentially limiting the net benefit increase for some seniors.”

He added, “Higher Medicare premiums mean lower Social Security checks. This could force tough choices between healthcare and other needs and it might push some seniors into poverty.”

Increasing the Retirement Age

In the RSC, Republicans have called to increase the retirement age from 67 to 69, stating, “modest adjustments to the retirement age for future retirees to account for increases in life expectancy. The budget also proposed lowering benefits for the highest-earning beneficiaries and emphasized the changes will not take immediate effect.

This could affect seniors because it “might force folks to work longer than planned, could reduce total lifetime benefits for many, and would hit physically demanding job workers hardest,” Lokenauth explained.

 

For new retirees, waiting until age 69 to leave the workforce would reduce benefits by 12.5%-14.3% and cost some recipients thousands of dollars a year, per the Center for American Progress.

Last year, nearly 68 million people received a monthly Social Security check. Asher stated, “It is difficult to speculate what level of cuts will get passed.”

She explained, “If you are currently receiving Social Security benefits, you may see a reduction in benefits. If no cuts are made, it is likely that you will not see any change for the next 10 years. After that, a reduction in benefits may occur unless the systemic issues are addressed.”

For the millions who solely count on the program, Ray noted there are a few ways to prepare for upcoming changes.

“Explore how to supplement income, such as part-time work, if possible,” he stated. “Furthermore, retirees should focus on budgeting carefully and considering assistance programs for essential services. Above all, staying informed about potential legislative changes and advocating for policies that protect Social Security benefits is critical.”

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Trump Economy Begins: How a Republican Congress Could Impact Those Relying on Social Security

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[connda]

On 1/21/2025 at 11:26 AM, steveb5 said:

I sent an email to social security Manila to update my new bank account but one month later no response and a second email was sent. I tried many many times calling social security international operations and no one answers. There's a toll free number for US embassy Manila but social security changed their phone number not free anymore. 

 At this point I don't know what to do anyone have any suggestions.

Interesting.  I never personally had any problems with Manila when sending email. 

Under your circumstances I'd suggest sending one more email, perhaps even an EMS letter with return receipt requested, keep a paper trail, and if you don't get a response within the timeframe listed on the Manila SSA website ([email protected]) then contact your Congressional representative in the US.  Congressional reps have an ability to cut through bureaucratic red-tape.

[Crossy]

Important note to members: - If you make a post that contains an email address it will be flagged for moderator approval which may take a few minutes.

 

You can avoid this issue by posting emails in the format fred[at]gmail.com. 

 

We implemented this rule to avoid email harvesting by bots.

 

[Yellowtail]

SS Manila has always provided me with great service. 

[Rimmer]

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