Apply for SocSec Benefits Online?

[NoDisplayName]

According to one government site, yes.

 

If you live outside the U.S., you can apply for Social Security benefits online.

https://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad

 

If this is true, then I do not need to go thru Manila Operations, and do not need to get a certified copy of my passport from the Bangkok embassy. 

 

I have my account at ssa.gov set up, I am able to log in using ID.me receiving a text to my Thai cell number.

I logged on, downloaded my latest benefits statement.

 

Just the basic package, wife not involved.  Direct deposit to a US credit union.

 

Am I correct?  Apply online here?

https://www.ssa.gov/apply

[sqwakvfr]

I applied through ssa.gov/apply ast week.  I am in CNX.  Got an automated reply that an employee in Baltimore MD will review my application.  So far I have not been asked to provide anything.  I am wondering if the pace of the application process will be impacted by the DOGE and Musk?  

[NoDisplayName]

Thank you for the reply.

 

Did you enter your Thai address and cellphone number, or did you use an existing US address and phone?  I'm hoping the file will be processed normally, and only be passed to Manilla in the event of some problem.

 

Please update as the process continues.

[sqwakvfr]

1 hour ago, NoDisplayName said:

Thank you for the reply.

 

Did you enter your Thai address and cellphone number, or did you use an existing US address and phone?  I'm hoping the file will be processed normally, and only be passed to Manilla in the event of some problem.

 

Please update as the process continues.

Thai Address and Thai phone #.

[Pib]

You can apply online from outside the US....like from Thailand.  A SS online account is "not" needed to apply.   

 

Once submitted "if", repeat, if Baltimore needs to relay it to Manila for some processing such as doing a telephone interview you will get an email from Manila saying such along with a date/time for the telephone interview.

 

What documents, if any, SSA may need to support your application varies from individual to individual.  

 

Apply online starting here:  https://www.ssa.gov/apply     Once again, you do not need a SSA online acct to apply online.

 

 

In case SSA does ask you to provide them the original or certified copy of some documents like your passport you can get such from the US Embassy/Consulate in person "or" via a mail-in process discussed below....since you are applying for federal benefits the service is free other than mailing fees.

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/notaries-public-2/

 

 

[sqwakvfr]

I checked on ssa.gov and now it indicates a representative in Manila is reviewing my application.  I guess this means I should get a certified copy of my passport from the CNX consulate? 

[NoDisplayName]

2 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I checked on ssa.gov and now it indicates a representative in Manila is reviewing my application.  I guess this means I should get a certified copy of my passport from the CNX consulate? 

 

Not necessarily.

 

I know others have done that, but unclear why.  Could be they were naturalized citizens or green card holders, or who knows what else.

 

I imagine gov.gov has records of my SS "contributions", and my passport renewals, and my DD214.  The online sites claiming it's possible to apply online from overseas don't mention certified passports.

 

Maybe Manilla has to do a review for anyone living outside CONUS, and they will schedule an interview if required.

[ricklev]

I did it recently.  No documents were required.  It was a few months wait for the phone interview appointment with Manilla.  The interview was only a few minutes of confirmation of what I submitted and future work plans.  A few weeks after the interview I got my first direct deposit to my USA bank for 5 months back benefits, as that is how long had passed since I submitted my start date in the online application.  

[Pib]

1 hour ago, ricklev said:

I did it recently.  No documents were required.  It was a few months wait for the phone interview appointment with Manilla.  The interview was only a few minutes of confirmation of what I submitted and future work plans.  A few weeks after the interview I got my first direct deposit to my USA bank for 5 months back benefits, as that is how long had passed since I submitted my start date in the online application.  

 

Pretty much the exact same thing happened around 18 months when I hand-worked a neighbor (a dual US/Thai citizen) thru the process.   He applied online....about two weeks later he got an email from Manila saying that Baltimore had relayed his application to them for some action.  And in that same email was an telephone interview appt about 2 months down the road.   

 

When telephone interview occurred (Manila calls you) it only took about 5 minutes to confirm a few things and Manila required him to provide his US passport (original or certified copy) via mail and email.   I think they also asked for a completed IDD direct deposit form since he want direct deposit via IDD.   He had already got certified true copy of his US passport from the US Embassy - Bangkok and had the direct deposit form complete to include the bank's part.   

 

Since he was a Naturalized US citizen Manila required him to provide his US passport "or" Naturalization Certificate just as I told him Manila would probably ask for such based on 2 other Naturalized US citizens I hand-walked in applying for SS pension.   But if a US citizen by birth it's unlikely they will ask for your passport. 

 

 

[NoDisplayName]

2 minutes ago, Pib said:

Since he was a Naturalized US citizen Manila required him to provide his US passport "or" Naturalization Certificate just as I told him Manila would probably ask for such based on 2 other Naturalized US citizens I hand-walked in apply for SS pension.   But if a US citizen by birth it's unlikely they will ask for your passport. 

+1

[sqwakvfr]

10 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Not necessarily.

 

I know others have done that, but unclear why.  Could be they were naturalized citizens or green card holders, or who knows what else.

 

I imagine gov.gov has records of my SS "contributions", and my passport renewals, and my DD214.  The online sites claiming it's possible to apply online from overseas don't mention certified passports.

 

Maybe Manilla has to do a review for anyone living outside CONUS, and they will schedule an interview if required.

1) i am a naturalized citizen. So I made an appointment to get a certified copy of my passport at the CNX consulate.

2) I doubt SSA can access State Department records.  I recall back in 2018 when the US Consulate in CNX stated they could not even verify American's SSA payments for the Income Affidavit.  What I know about the Federal Government based upon prior work experience is the agencies do not share information with each other.  This was one fo the failures of 9-11. I doubt much has changed in DC. 

[Pib]

A lot of people think that any US govt agency (like the SSA) can see/access all data collected and maintained by another US govt agency (like State Dept, IRS, etc) and this thinking is incorrect.   While some US govt agencies do share certain info it is specific and limited in scope....only what is needed for a govt agency to do its job and then it's usually limited in scope.  Basically on a need to know type basis kinda like access to classified material and privacy data.    Some database info is readily shared but other info is not.  You get the idea.

 

What is SSA does sometimes in requesting certain forms/docs is just obtaining documentation for "their system".....info that might be maintained in another federal, state or local govt system but that info is not available to the SSA.   So, the SSA will ask the applicant for docs to provide the info they need.  

 

Heck, when my wife applied for SS pension which would be based on my record since she fell a half year short of having enough work record to earn SS pension based on her work record the SSA Manila sent me a simple one page form to confirm I was still married to her, when and where we got married, etc.,...I completed/signed it and sent it back.  And Manila even had the wife fill out the form to apply for a SS number although she has had a SSN for decades and decades....but the SSA needed that form for "their records" and which also ended up in her getting sent a new SS card---not a new number, just a new card.  The Manila rep told us although there is indeed proof in other govt systems of this-and-that, the SSA does "not" have direct access to those systems.

 

No one should think that just because you have a US passport issued by the US State Dept that the SSA can see/confirm such by the SSA looking at some State Dept database...nope, it don't work that way.   Maybe is should but we don't live in a "should" world.   Heck, the Manila SSA Office is part of the US Embassy - Manila which is part of the US State Dept....that Manila SSA rep can "not" just go across the hall to the Manila Embassy Passport office and ask that they provide confirmation/ a copy of the applicant's current US passport from some St Dept databses...nope, it don't work that way....maybe it should....but we don't live in a "should-world"....we live in the real-world like it or not. 

 

Each applicant is different.....each has had a different life....some are citizens by birth....some are naturalized citizens....some have paid social security-type taxes to other countries which can complicate an application....some are applying for benefits based on their own work record while others are applying based a current or former spouse work record.....etc.....etc......etc.....etc.....etc.  Oh my gosh, there are some many life and work record issues that can possibly apply to each application.  And due to all the variables you read and hear all types of stories about SS benefit applications.  For some applicants the process went quick &  smooth and for others the process was filled with lot of additional docs and a long wait as SSA evaluated and/or waited for the additional docs which were to be provided by the applicant or another agency.

 

So, if you get asked by the SSA for a certain doc/complete a certain form that makes you scratch your head as to "why" it's needed because you can't figure why it's needed or why the SSA doesn't have readily access to the info maintained in another govt database, I would recommend you do yourself a favor and just provide the requested doc/form.   Complain about it later if desired if that makes you feel better, but to keep you SS application moving along just provide the doc/form.

 

[sqwakvfr]

17 minutes ago, Pib said:

A lot of people think that any US govt agency (like the SSA) can see/access all data collected and maintained by another US govt agency (like State Dept, IRS, etc) and this thinking is incorrect.   While some US govt agencies do share certain info it is specific and limited in scope....only what is needed for a govt agency to do its job and then it's usually limited in scope.  Basically on a need to know type basis kinda like access to classified material and privacy data.    Some database info is readily shared but other info is not.  You get the idea.

 

What is SSA does sometimes in requesting certain forms/docs is just obtaining documentation for "their system".....info that might be maintained in another federal, state or local govt system but that info is not available to the SSA.   So, the SSA will ask the applicant for docs to provide the info they need.  

 

Heck, when my wife applied for SS pension which would be based on my record since she fell a half year short of having enough work record to earn SS pension based on her work record the SSA Manila sent me a simple one page form to confirm I was still married to her, when and where we got married, etc.,...I completed/signed it and sent it back.  And Manila even had the wife fill out the form to apply for a SS number although she has had a SSN for decades and decades....but the SSA needed that form for "their records" and which also ended up in her getting sent a new SS card---not a new number, just a new card.  The Manila rep told us although there is indeed proof in other govt systems of this-and-that, the SSA does "not" have direct access to those systems.

 

No one should think that just because you have a US passport issued by the US State Dept that the SSA can see/confirm such by the SSA looking at some State Dept database...nope, it don't work that way.   Maybe is should but we don't live in a "should" world.   Heck, the Manila SSA Office is part of the US Embassy - Manila which is part of the US State Dept....that Manila SSA rep can "not" just go across the hall to the Manila Embassy Passport office and ask that they provide confirmation/ a copy of the applicant's current US passport from some St Dept databses...nope, it don't work that way....maybe it should....but we don't live in a "should-world"....we live in the real-world like it or not. 

 

Each applicant is different.....each has had a different life....some are citizens by birth....some are naturalized citizens....some have paid social security-type taxes to other countries which can complicate an application....some are applying for benefits based on their own work record while others are applying based a current or former spouse work record.....etc.....etc......etc.....etc.....etc.  Oh my gosh, there are some many life and work record issues that can possibly apply to each application.  And due to all the variables you read and hear all types of stories about SS benefit applications.  For some applicants the process went quick &  smooth and for others the process was filled with lot of additional docs and a long wait as SSA evaluated and/or waited for the additional docs which were to be provided by the applicant or another agency.

 

So, if you get asked by the SSA for a certain doc/complete a certain form that makes you scratch your head as to "why" it's needed because you can't figure why it's needed or why the SSA doesn't have readily access to the info maintained in another govt database, I would recommend you do yourself a favor and just provide the requested doc/form.   Complain about it later if desired if that makes you feel better, but to keep you SS application moving along just provide the doc/form.

 

Well said.  To this day most Federal agencies rarely communicate with each other.  In my past life I saw the worst example of this between State and Defense in A-stan.  It  was almost like they were enemies and at times sabotaging each other.  For instance a DOD security clearance is not accepted by the State Department and vice versa.  The Federal Government is the ultimate definition of bureaucracy(inherently inefficient and doubt even the Tesla can make major changes except to fire people).