SS via Manila - or?

[KhaoHom]

I'm going to draw SS next year on my BD.

 

One issue I'm wrestling with is having the money sent to Thailand and be subject to tax no way round it as it plonks into your account. I'd read not to worry as US has tax treaties. Also looks like it will be exempt anyway with possible changes to exempting from US federal income tax.

 

Do I need a special bank account for such monthly deposits?

 

How easy to set up with manila? How about home - using friend address as mail drop?

 

How to send proof of whatever to manila? Maybe window virtual fax? Will they respond via email ? Does anyone make a trip there? Is schedule an appointment I'll complicated like at the embassy here?

 

Thanks in advance

[sqwakvfr]

it does not seem easy at all. I applied online for SS retirement at 62 almost 2 months ago. The only thing I know is "a representative in Manila started reviewing your application".  The SS website indicates the review will take 30 days to complete but that was 30 days ago. I have sent emails but so far no response.  Hopefully things will improve  by next year. 

 

I used a Thailand address so I don't know if the process is better if one uses a US address.

[Gecko123]

Any email correspondence with Manila should generate a "do not reply" automatic response advising you that they will respond to your inquiry within 14 working days or thereabouts. You can start the application process by sending an email to Manila, but you will soon be asked to complete a formal ss application which I believe needs to be sent back by mail. Recommend either registered or EMS express mail svc when corresponding with Manila just for the peace of mind tracking provides.

 

You can't set up a MySocial Security account on line outside the US. Once the  application  is processed by Manila, you will then need to verify your identity in person either at the Embassy in Bangkok or consulate in Chiang Mai. I don't know anything about taxation of social security benefits deposited to a Thai bank account, but you don't need a "special" account, a regular savings account is fine. You also might want to start thinking about whether you want to have Part B or other Medicare plan premiums deducted from your ss benefit.

[KhaoHom]

I set up a myss account already when in USA ,but I never saw the point of it. There were serious security measures and the password system was very tedious. I no longer have that password I believe.

 

How early should I begin? I want to draw about 11 mo's from now. I'd read maybe on big SS site four months. Maybe 6 here?

 

What sort of docs will they want?

 

Is it just as easy to deposit in USA as Thailand? Do you avoid the dread letter?  I use a friend's house as a drop, but can't be forever.

 

Part B

I'm a dead ender here so no part B..

[Gecko123]

25 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

I set up a myss account already when in USA ,but I never saw the point of it. There were serious security measures and the password system was very tedious. I no longer have that password I believe.

 

How early should I begin? I want to draw about 11 mo's from now. I'd read maybe on big SS site four months. Maybe 6 here?

 

What sort of docs will they want?

 

Is it just as easy to deposit in USA as Thailand? Do you avoid the dread letter?  I use a friend's house as a drop, but can't be forever.

 

Part B

I'm a dead ender here so no part B..

Would be interested to know if you can access your my ss account from Thailand. I imagine you can't, but if you can, I'm pretty sure you can file the on line app for benefits on that website. Just follow the time frames indicated on line, no need for longer lead time just because you are overseas. Documents required are minimal (although as I am sure you are aware God only knows what requirements Trump might try to institute between now and the time you apply.  I recall now that after app is filed you will have some sort of phone interview with Manila where some preliminary identity verification questions are asked, (city of birth, mother's maiden name, that sort of thing.) Just as easy to have payment deposited into US account, but does not eliminate proof of life letter. That's triggered by your mailing address. Should point out that payment into US account allows you control of the timing of currency exchange.  

 

P.S. Pretty sure you can download the benefits app from the SS website even if you don't have or can't access your MySS website.

[cdemundo]

I have my SS deposited in the US.

I use Charles Schwab Bank and access my money by ATM.

Schwab refunds all ATM fees once a month.

 

Thailand has no record of these payments as far as I know.

I have an SCB account and I can deposit cash when I need to do so.

 

Maybe this won't work for everyone but it works for me.

 

[sqwakvfr]

1. One can apply up to 4 months before they are eligible (62 minus 4 months). I applied two months before i turn 62.

2. Yes the ssa.gov account on My SS was tedius to set up. I used the ID.me portal to access my SSA account. It has worked well in LOS and in the USA. I check the status of my application often but so far nothing has changed.  

3. I only submited an onlline application  Yes, so far no one from Manila has called or emailed about my application. 

4.  On the actual onlline application I was asked to provide the routing number and account number of the bank account  that I wanted my payment direct deposited.  I provided the information from my US Bank account. 

5. To verify my identity I have already obtained a certified copy of my passport from the US Embassy in Bangkok. This was free because it was for an SS application. Otherwise it would have been 1800 Baht(speaking of inflation??).  

[unblocktheplanet]

I just hope my $20/month SS doesn't go into Musk's account.

 

Manila was very responsive to me, guiding me step-by-step via quite a few emails. I waited until I turned 65. (Wouldn't want to settle for $17/month!)

 

What I worry about is the annual letter. Anybody know what happens if you don't reply? Thx.

[NoDisplayName]

2 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

You can't set up a MySocial Security account on line outside the US.

 

This is incorrect.  You can setup outside the US, but you may need to have your ID.me account as well.

 

You CAN set up ID.me from Thailand using your Thai address and cellphone.

 

Latest reports on applying for SS benefits it that it can be done online from overseas.  After processing, expect an email from Manilla to set up a telephone interview, which if reports are correct, they simply ask you about some items on your application for you to confirm.

 

Those reports also indicate that a certified copy of your passport is only needed for naturalized citizens.

 

On 4/12/2025 at 4:02 PM, KhaoHom said:

One issue I'm wrestling with is having the money sent to Thailand and be subject to tax no way round it as it plonks into your account. I'd read not to worry as US has tax treaties.

 

SS payments are exempt from Thai tax by DTA.  No deductions will be deducted.  No requirement to file Thai tax return if that is your sole source of income remitted.

[KhaoHom]

Thanks everyone

 

Lots of procedures and processes.

 

 

16 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

you may need to have your ID.me account as well.

 

You CAN set up ID.me from Thailand using your Thai address and cellphone.

I've no idea about any ID Me (guess I should find out) 

but -

*I have a Real ID from CA

*I'm in My SS but pw may be lost

* Passport

* Certified copy

* Legal papers

If that helps

[bkk6060]

2 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

You can't set up a MySocial Security account on line outside the US.

You ever hear of a VPN?

[KhaoHom]

2 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

You ever hear of a VPN?

Yes  and I use it for security, but I don't believe banks, financial institutions don't know my location if that was a point.

[ricklev]

Things may have changed since Trump cut the budgets but I applied about 8 months ago through Manila and it was all done online through the social security portal. It did take a couple of months before approval through Manila and then another couple of months for a telephone call appointment. However it all went smoothly. I never had to provide any paperwork or ID verification. When it was finally approved I received all the back months from the date that I asked for it to be started. During the phone interview they asked me for my bank account information and I chose to have it deposited into my us account. 

[Sheryl]

SS income is NOT taxable in Thailand. 

 

US-Thai tax treaty clearly states it is assessable only in US.

 

If it were assessable in Thailand (which it is not), having it go first into a US account would not alter that fact as you'd still be somehow remitting it to Thailand.

 

You can do the whole application process through Manila, online then you'll get a phone interview at some point. No idea if budget/staff cuts have caused much  delay in this process, could have.

 

You can create a MySS account from abroad. Need an ID.me account so set that up. 

 

https://www.americansabroad.org/us-citizens-overseas-can-now-create-social-security-accounts-online

 

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

...

What I worry about is the annual letter. Anybody know what happens if you don't reply? Thx.

 

Your benefits get suspended. 

 

This is indeed a concern since the lettters are sent only by snail mail.  I almost never get mine.

 

What I do is print out a blank form, fill it in and  mail it in annually. 

[KhunLA]

9 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

Your benefits get suspended. 

 

This is indeed a concern since the lettters are sent only by snail mail.  I almost never get mine.

 

What I do is print out a blank form, fill it in and  mail it in annually. 

Agree.  Should get mine around July, as that's when I mailed them, yes, them, 2 mailed a week apart, last year.  I not received, as once didn't, but 2nd notice did arrive, then I'll mail the copies I have.

 

I always send 2 by snail mail, and about a week apart, so shouldn't get lost together.

[ChicagoExpat]

On 4/15/2025 at 3:04 PM, Sheryl said:

 

Your benefits get suspended. 

 

This is indeed a concern since the lettters are sent only by snail mail.  I almost never get mine.

 

What I do is print out a blank form, fill it in and  mail it in annually. 

That's a great idea.

[exant]

With a my Social Security account, you can:

• Check your earnings.
• Get your benefit estimates.
• Check the status of your application or appeal.
• View, print, or save a benefit verification letter (Social Security is unable to mail to a foreign address).
• Change Special Notice Options (SNO Notices).
• Access some representative payee services.
• View, Print, or save replacement SSA-1099/1042S tax statement (Social Security is unable to mail replacement statements to a foreign address).
• Access online notices.
• Request a replacement Medicare Card.

Until now, you needed a U.S. mailing address to access Social Security's my Social Security account and use the online services. Now, individuals without a U.S. mailing address can create a personal my Social Security account and use the online services with an ID.me credential. If you don't already have an ID.me credential: 

1. Go to  www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
2. On the my Social Security page, select the 'Create an Account' button and then select 'Sign in with ID.me.'
3. Select the 'Create an ID.me account' link and follow the instructions.
4. On ID.me's 'Verify Your Identity' screen, select the 'I don't live in the United States' link at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions to complete the registration- process.
5. Once you create your credential, you will be returned to the my Social Security webpage for the next steps.

If you already have an ID.me credential, select 'Sign In' from the my Social Security page and then sign in to ID.me. You will be redirected to your my Social Security account.

[exant]

February 1, 2025

 

Did not receive your February Social Security payment?

If you did not receive your February payment, your benefits have been suspended because we did not receive your Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire.

To reinstate the benefits, you must take the following actions:

• If you receive payments in your own name, complete form SSA-7162 (PDF 1.2Mb).
• If you receive payments through a representative payee or are a representative payee, complete form SSA-7161 (PDF 548Kb).
• Make sure to include:
  • Social Security Number
  • Name
  • Address (Including City, Province, Country and zip code
  • Signature (Note: we cannot accept digital or electronic signatures use ink)
  • Date
  • A copy of your valid U.S. passport or any valid current updated USA picture ID

The Social Security Administration cannot accept this document by email or fax, you will need to submit it in person or send the original document physically.

Submitting the FEQ in person

The Regional Federal Benefits Office (RFBO) does not have an office at the U.S. Mission Thailand, but they do in Manila. USA Ebassy. FBU / SSA

Submit the FEQ via courier make sure you have a tracking delivery identification

[exant]

https://ec.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/167/2024/06/SSA-7162.pdf

 

Form SSA-7162-OCR-SM (01-2021)
Discontinue Prior Editions
Social Security Administration
Page 1 of 2
0MB No. 0960-0049
REPORT TO THE UNITED STATES SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
IMPORTANT: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM WITHIN 60 DAYS WILL RESULT IN A SUSPENSION OF
BENEFITS. SIGN AND RETURN THIS FORM IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. SEE INSTRUCTIONS ENCLOSED.
1. Print your address here only if it is different from the one shown below.
Name:
Current Address:
2. Telephone number at which you may be
contacted during the day.
Social Security Number/ Claim Number:
IF YOU ANSWER "YES" TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS BELOW, PLEASE TURN THIS FORM OVER AND CONTINUE ON
THE BACK. YOU MUST SIGN YOUR NAME IN ITEM 7 ON THE BACK OF THIS FORM.
Has there been a change in your citizenship or your country of residence that you have not yet YES
3.
reported to SSA? □4. Have you married or had a divorce or annulment since you last reported your marital
□status to SSA?
5. Did you work for someone else or were you self-employed (i.e. did you own a business or farm) since
□your last report of work to SSA?
Answer Question 6 only if you are the parent of a child under age 16 or disabled and you receive Social Security
benefits because you have this child in your care.
NO
□
□
□
6. Did you and the child live apart since you last reported the child's living arrangements to SSA? □□OTHER REPORTABLE EVENTS
In addition to the events listed on this form, you are responsible for
reporting any other event that may affect benefit payments.
Privacy Act Statement
(FOR SSA USE ONLY}
SSN
Collection and Use of Personal Information
Sections 203 and 205 of the Social Security Act, as amended, allow us to collect this information. Furnishing us this information
is voluntary. However, failing to provide all or part of the information may affect the decision on your claim. We will use the
information to make a decision regarding continuing entitlement to benefits. We may also share your information for the following
purposes, called routine uses:
1. To third party contacts in situations where the party to be contacted has, or is expected to have, information relating to
an individual's capability to manage his/her affairs or his/her eligibility for or entitlement to benefits under the Social
Security program when the individual is unable to provide the information being sought; 2. To third party contacts where
necessary to establish or verify information provided by representative payees or payee applicants; and 3. To the
Department of State and its agents for administering the Act in foreign countries through facilities and services of
that agency.
In addition, we may share this information in accordance with the Privacy Act and other Federal laws. For example, where
authorized, we may use and disclose this information in computer matching programs, in which our records are compared with
other records to establish or verify a person's eligibility for Federal benefit programs and for repayment of incorrect or delinquent
debts under these programs.
A list of additional routine uses is available in our Privacy Act System of Records Notices (SORNs) 60-0089, entitled Claims
Folders Systems. Additional information and a full listing of all our SORNs are available on our website at
www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/bluebook.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement - This information collection meets the requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507, as amended by
section 2 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You do not need to answer these questions unless we display a valid Office
of Management and Budget (0MB) control number. We estimate that it will take about 15 minutes to read the instructions,
gather the facts, and answer the questions. Send only comments relating to our time estimate above to: SSA, 6401
Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. Continued on the Reverse

 

[KhaoHom]

4 hours ago, exant said:

With a my Social Security account, you can:

• Check your earnings.
• Get your benefit estimates.
• Check the status of your application or appeal.
• View, print, or save a benefit verification letter (Social Security is unable to mail to a foreign address).
• Change Special Notice Options (SNO Notices).
• Access some representative payee services.
• View, Print, or save replacement SSA-1099/1042S tax statement (Social Security is unable to mail replacement statements to a foreign address).
• Access online notices.
• Request a replacement Medicare Card.

Until now, you needed a U.S. mailing address to access Social Security's my Social Security account and use the online services. Now, individuals without a U.S. mailing address can create a personal my Social Security account and use the online services with an ID.me credential. If you don't already have an ID.me credential: 

1. Go to  www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
2. On the my Social Security page, select the 'Create an Account' button and then select 'Sign in with ID.me.'
3. Select the 'Create an ID.me account' link and follow the instructions.
4. On ID.me's 'Verify Your Identity' screen, select the 'I don't live in the United States' link at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions to complete the registration- process.
5. Once you create your credential, you will be returned to the my Social Security webpage for the next steps.

If you already have an ID.me credential, select 'Sign In' from the my Social Security page and then sign in to ID.me. You will be redirected to your my Social Security account.

 

Don't really need any of it.

 

Just need the check to come + statement printout/ verification

[exant]

yeah  yeah we all need a simple way to get your simple queations aNswered by brain dead MANILA OFF THE STREET

hired children paid temporary and not educated. THEY HAVE hands aroung your throat and decide delivery of your IRS taxed FICA money!!!!!

 

Wake up all you dead brain old farts and start complaoning!!!

 

!Write to every fat ass milliomare politician~~~~!!!!

 it is your money all is about money your GOD IS money and MONEY IS GOD to the fat ass political scum ripping off your taxed pay checks!!! 

 

WaKE UP OR SHUT UP NOBODY IN GOVERNMENT WHO IS RECEVING A FAT ~130,000 USD PAY CHECK CARE ABOUT YOUR RETIRED  PILES PIECE OF MEAT.  it is a routine job that pays them and makess  them filthy rich at your expense

examples as are tabulated, there are no poor  USA tax paid politicians available to help retired USA foreign country

USA citizens and politicians prefer sleep in USA card board box rather than a happy USA pay for FICA retirement bills!!

If you are satisfied and a happy USA citizen why the fuk ARE YOU LIVING IN CHEAP LOW COST THAILAND WITH ALL YOUR USA BANKED RETIREMEBT MONEY??? 

 

WAKE UP THIS IS A SURVIVAL WAR in the handsof temporary undereducated monkeys in control of your life hired off the streets of MANILA!!!!    Why did this happen because thw black hole braib dead AFRICANchildtren hired by Sicial Security astemporary untrained monkeys decided MANILA FBU hired monkeys are the solution to Social Security International

communication timed problems/    WTF you are insane demanding accountable responsible communication FOLLOW

UP after you are asked to get naked and bend over to MANILA temporary here today gone tomorrow SSA FBU children!

 

WAKE UP AND BITCH YOU PAID ALL THESE PARASITES 15% OUT OF YOUR USA PAY CHECKS.. It is they who are free loaders living off your past 40 years income and it is their untrained brain dead OLD GOAT manaagement RHINO PIG

attitude screwing up a simple INTERNATIONAL USA CITIZEN SSA.GOV RETIREMENT          

[EVENKEEL]

For something as important as setting up my SS I made a trip back to US and had a face to face meeting. Having an online account is very helpful especially at tax time you can go online for 1099R.

[exant]

You get old, you get senlle, you get dead, you get no more  USA family or USA friends optional assistance...  All the happy camoers over 70 age retired in cheapo Thailand have arranged SSA monthly cash deposits depending on past present living USA connections under investigation!

 

USA citizens who are settled, pernament,  living retirement in Thailand are isolated and abandoned past age of 70 are unable to hop on USA airplanes, finance USA hotels, afford USA taxi driven transportation im addition to poor health, bad eye sight, etc..   WTF so laugh it off I assure you shall get out of breath, fat, rinkled old faced pobably loose your hair walk abouts as bald old man however living as the king paid by USA Social Security cheks every month.

 

The entire global sensitivesecurity digitized system is being hacked every day by piss pot punks that accelerate and explode personal identification security validation upgraded every year as

you loose your hair and collect fat wrinkles on your body.

 

WTF is the problems, bitching and educating and revising and modernizing,  retirement

pensions outside the USA borders?

 

WTF you plan to secure SSA payments security demanding a brain inplanted Artificial Intelligent portal?  Paper postal mail  wired to your skin at your 90th birtday?  Or you thinking vitamin pills? You at 90 able to  drive, with shaky wrinkled hands,  apply SSA  proof of life signature that you plan to walk over to the Thailand Post Office, to br delivered to remote isolated children in Pennsylvania. USA....  is your plan or perhsps you nrvrt grt old and your family and friends live forever9 and you have a lot of money, to eat, drink, sleep. <deleted> and have sex in the USA ... NO NEED SSA.GOV customer service outside the USA burried inside a Baltimore black FBU hole

 

Functions:

• Processing applications for Social Security benefits (retirement, disability, survivors).
• Managing International Direct Deposit (IDD) for benefit payments.
• Verifying beneficiary life status (e.g., via Form SSA-7162) to prevent fraud.
• Responding to inquiries about eligibility, payments, and program changes.
• Coordinating with Regional Federal Benefits Officers (RFBOs) and SSA headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland.

The FBU Manila is critical for ensuring that beneficiaries receive timely payments and support, but its operations face significant challenges, as highlighted in your query, including staffing instability, outdated processes, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Source Reference:

• SSA Office of Earnings & International Operations
• U.S. Embassy Manila, Federal Benefits Unit page
• 7 FAM 530 Social Security Administration

---

2. Staffing Structure and Challenges

The FBU Manila is primarily staffed by Locally Employed (LE) Staff, hired in consultation with the SSA and RFBOs, as outlined in the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual (7 FAM 530). These staff members, typically Filipino nationals or residents, are supplemented by a smaller number of U.S. direct-hire consular officers or RFBOs who provide oversight.

2.1 Staffing Composition

• Locally Employed (LE) Staff: LE staff handle the bulk of operational tasks, including processing applications, conducting interviews, verifying documents, and managing customer inquiries. They are trained by SSA and the State Department but may lack the specialized expertise of U.S.-based SSA employees.
• U.S. Direct-Hire Staff: A limited number of U.S. citizen employees, such as consular officers or RFBOs, oversee operations and handle complex cases. These positions are often rotational, with staff rotating every 2–3 years.
• Temporary or Contract Staff: Your query describes a “revolving door” of temporary staff, suggesting that the FBU relies on short-term hires to address staffing shortages or peak workloads. These hires may be less trained, contributing to inefficiencies.

2.2 Staffing Challenges

Your concern about a “here today, gone tomorrow disaster” driven by temporary staffing is a critical issue that undermines the FBU’s effectiveness. Key challenges include:

• High Turnover: LE staff may leave for better opportunities in the private sector, where salaries are often higher. Temporary hires, as you noted, exacerbate this issue, as they may lack the experience or institutional knowledge needed for efficient service delivery.
• Inadequate Training: Training for LE and temporary staff is often limited to initial onboarding, with minimal ongoing development. This can lead to errors in processing applications or delays in responding to inquiries, particularly for complex cases.
• Cost-Cutting Measures: Your reference to “postal delivery use of row boats across the Pacific Ocean” and a regional manager’s explanation of “trying to reduce expenses” suggests that budget constraints drive staffing decisions. The SSA may prioritize hiring lower-cost LE or temporary staff over investing in permanent, highly trained personnel, leading to operational inefficiencies.
• Management Inertia: Your description of “brain-dead old goat unmotivated managers” points to a perception of bureaucratic resistance to change. While subjective, this aligns with broader critiques of federal agencies where entrenched management may protect outdated workflows to maintain job security or avoid retraining.

2.3 Inquiry into Staff Names (Past 10 Years)

Your request for staff names over the past decade cannot be fulfilled due to privacy and security regulations. The U.S. government does not publicly disclose personnel records for LE staff or U.S. direct-hire employees at embassies, citing privacy protections under the Privacy Act and security concerns. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for such data are typically denied. Additionally, the high turnover you described makes tracking individual staff members over a 10-year period challenging without internal SSA or State Department records.

Recommendation: To pursue staffing data, you could:

• Submit a FOIA request to the SSA or U.S. Embassy Manila, though success is unlikely due to privacy restrictions.
• Contact the FBU Manila directly to inquire about general staffing trends or operational structure.
• Engage with the RFBO for the Asia-Pacific region for insights into staffing policies.

Source Reference:

• 7 FAM 530 Social Security Administration
• General insights from SSA and U.S. Embassy operations

---

3. Operational Processes and Identification Issues

The FBU Manila’s operations rely heavily on manual, paper-based processes, which contribute to the inefficiencies you’ve highlighted. Your critique of outdated identification methods (e.g., Social Security cards vs. biometric passports) and bureaucratic obstacles is analyzed below.

3.1 Key Operational Processes

• Application Processing: Beneficiaries submit applications for Social Security benefits, requiring documents such as birth certificates, marriage records, or proof of residency. The FBU verifies these documents and forwards them to SSA headquarters for approval, a process that can take weeks or months.
• International Direct Deposit (IDD): The FBU facilitates IDD, allowing benefits to be deposited directly into foreign bank accounts. This requires beneficiaries to provide bank details and proof of identity, often leading to delays due to verification challenges.
• Life Status Verification: Beneficiaries must periodically submit Form SSA-7162 to confirm they are alive, typically via mail or in-person visits. This process is particularly burdensome for elderly or remote beneficiaries in the Philippines.
• Customer Service: The FBU handles inquiries via phone, email, and in-person appointments. Long wait times and limited staff capacity can frustrate beneficiaries, especially during peak periods.

3.2 Identification Challenges

Your query emphasizes the superiority of U.S. passports as a “global USA citizen secured identification” compared to Social Security cards and highlights issues with foreign bank account operations. These points are critical to understanding FBU inefficiencies:

• Social Security Cards vs. Passports: Social Security cards are paper-based, non-biometric, and easily forged, whereas U.S. passports incorporate advanced security features (e.g., RFID chips, biometric data). Your argument that passports are “far superior” is valid, yet the FBU often requires Social Security numbers and cards for initial verification, creating unnecessary hurdles for beneficiaries without these documents.
• Passports as Temporary Visas: You note that U.S. passports serve as “90-day temporary global rubber stamp visas” subject to frequent inspection. While this pertains to immigration requirements in foreign countries (e.g., the Philippines’ 90-day visa renewals), it underscores the passport’s role as a globally recognized ID. The FBU’s failure to leverage passport data for SSA processes is a missed opportunity for streamlining.
• Foreign Bank Accounts and IDD: Foreign banks typically require passport-based identification for account operations, as you mentioned. However, the FBU’s IDD process often demands additional SSA-specific documentation (e.g., Social Security cards, Form SSA-1199), leading to redundant verification steps. This disconnect between SSA and international banking standards causes delays and frustration.
• Biometric Integration: Your call for a “top-down SSA foreign integrated digitized government surveillance SSA identification operation” aligns with global trends toward biometric identification. Systems like India’s Aadhaar or the EU’s eID demonstrate the potential for secure, centralized ID databases. The SSA’s reliance on manual verification is outdated and prone to errors, as you’ve noted.

3.3 Bureaucratic Inefficiencies

Your frustration with “common sense evaluation ignored” and “paperwork-heavy” processes reflects systemic issues:

• Paper-Based Systems: Many FBU processes require physical documents, mailed forms, or in-person visits, despite advances in digitization. This is particularly challenging in the Philippines, where beneficiaries may live in rural areas or face mobility issues.
• Lack of Data Integration: SSA systems are not fully integrated with other U.S. government databases (e.g., State Department passport records, IRS taxpayer data). This leads to redundant verification and delays, as beneficiaries must repeatedly prove their identity.
• Resistance to Modernization: Your reference to “unmotivated managers” protecting their “routine” suggests a cultural resistance to change within the SSA. Legacy systems and entrenched workflows persist, even as technological solutions become available.
• Temporary Staff Overload: Your depiction of “untrained off the street children shuffling your personal papers” highlights the risks of relying on temporary staff. These workers may lack the expertise to handle sensitive documents, leading to errors or demands for additional paperwork, as you noted.

Source Reference:

• SSA International Direct Deposit information
• U.S. Embassy consular operations
• General insights on SSA processes

---

4. Recent Policy Changes and Technological Trends

Your query references “exploding changes” in Social Security policy and the potential for AI-driven solutions under DOGE. Below is an analysis of these trends and their relevance to FBU Manila as of April 20, 2025.

4.1 Recent Social Security Policy Changes

The SSA has implemented several updates that impact international beneficiaries:

 

 

[KhaoHom]

Drunken ramblings + AI rubbish. That's not helpful.

[KhaoHom]

So, ...

 

I need to ...

 

Online:

1 Get ID Me

2 REestablish My SS acct as the one I'd created was in US.

* I would then have two. Will this open me up to some sort of fraud flag and have the accounts locked and then I'm on the phone for 52 hours?

 

Is the manila way inclusive? Do I still need these online accounts?

 

Is it possible to go to Manila rather than US?

 

Will I receive something from Medicare about signing up or are the questions,/ process contained within the app for social security?

[KhaoHom]

Anyone??

 

If I were to go back to States. I'd use the last domicile/mailing address I have. It should be good for a least a few years.

 

Another question.. if I need to change address to Thailand in the future what is involved? Visit SS office? Forms? Online?

 

If I'm using US than there's no are you still alive form correct?

[sqwakvfr]

On 4/21/2025 at 9:36 PM, EVENKEEL said:

For something as important as setting up my SS I made a trip back to US and had a face to face meeting. Having an online account is very helpful especially at tax time you can go online for 1099R.

Was this before Trump 2.0, DOGE and the Tesla Guy?  I just pased 60 days after submitting my SS at 62 online application.  The only thing I know is " a representative in Manila is reviewing your application and this process should take 30 days".   The 30 days has passed. a month ago.  It is a good thing I don't need the money but one has to wonder what is the current state of SSA?  My goal for SS has always been to collect somethiing at the earliest age in case it implodes anytime before 2035.