2025 SSA Form 7162 - "Hello, are you dead yet?" forms.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

20 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

Did you even read the posts in those threads?

 

Did you see the dates of those threads?

 

Do you actually know when DOGE was created?

 

Do you always need your hand held and have obvious things explained to you?

 

In one of the links there's posts saying that the form was received anywhere between early June and almost mid July...... that was all posted well before DOGE.

 

Like I said, take your political rants elsewhere. 

 

If folks are that concerned this early then I suggest pinging the FBU.

 

Yes, they were all well before DOGE, so back then it could not have been DOGE causing the delay.

 

But now, with DOGE having wielded their chainsaws, the present delay may have been caused by DOGE.

 

I am not ranting. My posts are quite calm in contrast to yours and I haven't said anything derogatory about you. Why do you feel you need to attack me personally?

[Pib]

8 hours ago, racyrick said:

No need to call. I went to a few social security websites in other countries, and they said that this year, the form 7162 will be mailed in June or July and NOT in May or June like in the past, so that means we should start to get them very soon.

 

Also, your benefits are not stopped until February if your form is not received.

 

 

Yeap....for example a partial snapshot from the US Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago talking the 7161/8162 forms....talks the mailing will occur in June and July 2025. 

 

https://tt.usembassy.gov/update-social-security-administration-ssa-benefit-payments/

 

U.S. Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago

 

 

[connda]

Just to inject a sense of sanity back into this thread, I started this, like Ubon Joe did in the past, in order to have a place where we can keep each other informed regarding the current status of our SSA 7162 forms.  Instead we now have at least one member who is attempting to hijack the thread and turn it into a bi*ch-session.   

Mods - can you clean this thread up and take out the off-topic personal attacks on members who are following this thread for the purposes of keeping up-to-date on the status of other USA member's SSA 7162 mailings.  I'd like to see this thread kept civil.  Thanks. 

[connda]

For those US forum members following this thread, if you get your SSA 7162 please post the date your received it on this thread.  That will keep everyone up-to-date on status.  The status now is that no one has received one yet, so we are all in the same boat.  This really isn't anything to fret about unless we don't receive any forms by November.  Until then.  Everyone relax.
Thanks!.

[Thailand J]

26 minutes ago, connda said:

I'd like to see this thread kept civil.  Thanks. 

Everytime there was a new post I came to check with the hope that someone has received the form , but only too see smart members fighting .

I'd like to see this thread CLOSED, open a new one once some one has got the form.

stop wasting my time. Thanks.

[dingdongrb]

51 minutes ago, connda said:

The status now is that no one has received one yet, so we are all in the same boat.

You seem to think that every US expat living in Thailand read and post to this forum.....  Might as well say DOGE is the cause.

 

You apparently forgot what you posted:

 

"I've opened this thread to discuss issues regarding the SSA Form 7162 forms here in 2025."

 

I guess you should have said:  'I've opened this thread so that folks can post when they receive their form, nothing more.'

[Rimmer]

Some off topic posts and replies have been removed, please respect and reply within the scope of the topic:

 

 2025 SSA Form 7162 - "Hello, are you dead yet?" forms.

[John Drake]

21 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

They really need to make the process happen electronically...... I mean, who uses 'snail mail' these days?

 

There was an online forum with an SSA official and I managed to put this question to him. He said they were working on doing precisely that, using the MySocialSecurity account. That was two years ago, I think.

[racyrick]

I thought this might interest you.

 

The SSA now allows you to call either the US office or the Manila office to fill out and verify the information on form 7162 and the agent can attest to your signature.

 

This was issued as an emergency decree last year and has been renewed for this year, 2025.

 

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/01102025092157AM

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, racyrick said:

I thought this might interest you.

 

The SSA now allows you to call either the US office or the Manila office to fill out and verify the information on form 7162 and the agent can attest to your signature.

 

This was issued as an emergency decree last year and has been renewed for this year, 2025.

 

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/01102025092157AM

I reported this a while ago based on an insider source though I didn’t have that detailed link.

Good news to hear that this policy is continuing.

Personally I would suggest mailing back the form as usual and using that if there is a problem. 

Some countries don't really have post service so a huge relief for expats in those places.

[dingdongrb]

2 hours ago, racyrick said:

 

This was issued as an emergency decree last year and has been renewed for this year, 2025.

 

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/01102025092157AM

Where does it say it's ok for 2025? I only see it says for last year (2024).

[MJoe]

3 hours ago, racyrick said:

I thought this might interest you.

 

The SSA now allows you to call either the US office or the Manila office to fill out and verify the information on form 7162 and the agent can attest to your signature.

 

This was issued as an emergency decree last year and has been renewed for this year, 2025.

 

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/01102025092157AM

This is great - thanks!  But where does it say it’s been renewed for this year, 2025?

[MJoe]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I reported this a while ago based on an insider source though I didn’t have that detailed link.

Good news to hear that this policy is continuing.

Personally I would suggest mailing back the form as usual and using that if there is a problem. 

Some countries don't really have post service so a huge relief for expats in those places.

Thanks.  Where did you see they are continuing it for 2025?

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, MJoe said:

Thanks.  Where did you see they are continuing it for 2025?

I guess technically I didn't.

It's only implied in this text from the link:

This EM establishes policy and procedure for doing so for the 2024 cycle while we work to issue permanent POMS instructions in time for the 2025 cycle.

[racyrick]

9 minutes ago, MJoe said:

Thanks.  Where did you see they are continuing it for 2025?

It says effective date is 01/10/2025-Present

 

Here are 2 other links about this-

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=allowing+signature+attestation+for+form+7162+in+2025

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=ssa+poms+for+signature+attestation+in+2025+for+form+7162

[bamnutsak]

Just my opinion...

 

This SSA policy

 

"Allowing Signature Attestation on SSA-7161 and SSA-7162 for 2024 – One Time Instruction"

 

is for those few folks who may not have received the 7162 owing to local postal difficulties.

 

 

I'm still holding out hope that most of us will receive the 7162.

 

The fact that no one has received it yet tells me it's not a Thai Post local delivery issue.

[Jingthing]

19 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Just my opinion...

 

This SSA policy

 

"Allowing Signature Attestation on SSA-7161 and SSA-7162 for 2024 – One Time Instruction"

 

is for those few folks who may not have received the 7162 owing to local postal difficulties.

 

 

I'm still holding out hope that most of us will receive the 7162.

 

The fact that no one has received it yet tells me it's not a Thai Post local delivery issue.

Yes, as I said I posted about this previously based on insider information from an actual SSA staffer that deals with such things. The strong impression that I got from that was that it was indeed about helping people who couldn't do it the normal way or the normal way failed for some reason. I think even a way to restore benefits if cut off. 

If most expats in Thailand who can get the letters start calling them prematurely, I would be concerned that such a flood may jeopardize the future of this very welcome back up service.

[cusanus]

Personally, I've never had a problem in 20 years, however it does appear that Melon Musk and Agent Orange are doing their best to muck up the system. Most years I got the form by end of June. When a friend did not by end of July, we filled out and mailed in the blank form (don't forget to put in SSN# top right). If the form finally arrives later, use the enclosed SASE and send it again to make sure. Do not use EMS or registered mail, because those may sit forever before getting a signature. In a couple of months email Manilla asking to let you know the status. It may take a couple of weeks to get a reply but usually only a day or two. Most likely, it's recorded as received. You can try calling, but it may be difficult getting through. If you're still unsure come October, fill out and mail yet one more, wait a couple months and query Manilla again. If you're still not recorded, well, the plane crashed or the fascists may have achieved their goal to suck up the taxes you paid for retirement all your working life. Hopefully, you've saved enough to get by.  

[ricklev]

39 minutes ago, cusanus said:

Personally, I've never had a problem in 20 years, however it does appear that Melon Musk and Agent Orange are doing their best to muck up the system. Most years I got the form by end of June. When a friend did not by end of July, we filled out and mailed in the blank form (don't forget to put in SSN# top right). If the form finally arrives later, use the enclosed SASE and send it again to make sure. Do not use EMS or registered mail, because those may sit forever before getting a signature. In a couple of months email Manilla asking to let you know the status. It may take a couple of weeks to get a reply but usually only a day or two. Most likely, it's recorded as received. You can try calling, but it may be difficult getting through. If you're still unsure come October, fill out and mail yet one more, wait a couple months and query Manilla again. If you're still not recorded, well, the plane crashed or the fascists may have achieved their goal to suck up the taxes you paid for retirement all your working life. Hopefully, you've saved enough to get by.  

There are higher priorities for tax money than funding social security and veterans' benefits phone help lines and customer service like, for example,  ...... (Oops, don't want to make this political!)

[John Drake]

22 hours ago, racyrick said:

I thought this might interest you.

 

The SSA now allows you to call either the US office or the Manila office to fill out and verify the information on form 7162 and the agent can attest to your signature.

 

This was issued as an emergency decree last year and has been renewed for this year, 2025.

 

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/01102025092157AM

 

I wonder about this, because one of Elon Musk's "reforms" was to prevent SSA from doing any sort of application, change, or verification over the phone. The new requirement was for people to make an appointment and visit their nearest SSA office, which for us, of course, would be Manila.

 

Oops. Never mind, I guess. Just saw this: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/social-security-abandons-phone-service-cuts-after-backlash-2025-04-09/

 

Hope that is true.

[cusanus]

6 hours ago, ricklev said:

There are higher priorities for tax money than funding social security and veterans' benefits phone help lines and customer service like, for example,  ...... (Oops, don't want to make this political!)

Try a sense of humor. 

[ricklev]

30 minutes ago, cusanus said:

Try a sense of humor. 

I don't get your comment.  My comment was intended to be sarcastically humerous.  Maybe it missed the mark.  I am not looking for fight though, as evidenced by this smiley face.  🙂

[KhunLA]

7 hours ago, cusanus said:

Personally, I've never had a problem in 20 years, however it does appear that Melon Musk and Agent Orange are doing their best to muck up the system. Most years I got the form by end of June. When a friend did not by end of July, we filled out and mailed in the blank form (don't forget to put in SSN# top right). If the form finally arrives later, use the enclosed SASE and send it again to make sure. Do not use EMS or registered mail, because those may sit forever before getting a signature. In a couple of months email Manilla asking to let you know the status. It may take a couple of weeks to get a reply but usually only a day or two. Most likely, it's recorded as received. You can try calling, but it may be difficult getting through. If you're still unsure come October, fill out and mail yet one more, wait a couple months and query Manilla again. If you're still not recorded, well, the plane crashed or the fascists may have achieved their goal to suck up the taxes you paid for retirement all your working life. Hopefully, you've saved enough to get by.  

Has nothing to do with Musk or Trump.   And in my world, it's not even late ... yet.   Now if it doesn't arrive by August, then I'd consider it late.   Didn't arrive last year till about 10th of July, at a guess, since I mailed it back 14th or 15th.   Was that Musk's or Trump's fault also 

[MJoe]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Has nothing to do with Musk or Trump.   And in my world, it's not even late ... yet.   Now if it doesn't arrive by August, then I'd consider it late.   Didn't arrive last year till about 10th of July, at a guess, since I mailed it back 14th or 15th.   Was that Musk's or Trump's fault also 

 
No one has received their form for 2025 - including people all across the world with reliable postal systems. For the last 10 plus years, mine has ALWAYS been dated June 1 (or June 2 if weekend involved) and I have NEVER received it later than June 16. Similar story to what everyone else is reporting. IMO the 7162 process is not operating in 2025. But I would be delighted to be proven wrong.

[KhunLA]

32 minutes ago, MJoe said:

 
No one has received their form for 2025 - including people all across the world with reliable postal systems. For the last 10 plus years, mine has ALWAYS been dated June 1 (or June 2 if weekend involved) and I have NEVER received it later than June 16. Similar story to what everyone else is reporting. IMO the 7162 process is not operating in 2025. But I would be delighted to be proven wrong.

Then myself and another AN must be special, as we both got ours in July last year.  Go figure ... damn you Biden 

 

I know I've downloaded it and mailed it in, as didn't receive when I expected, July.   Don't remember exact times, but since I downloaded, probably well into July.

 

I guess them bastards singled me out of the millions that received it in a timely manner.

[cusanus]

Mine came early June every time from 2009-covid. I marked it and plopped it in the mail and never gave it a 2nd thought. I admit to being upset with US politics the last few years and on the paranoid side. I've helped friends who for some reason couldn't get forms or correspond with the US government at all. DOGE has made a mess of SS and that could make them late this year but I don't think they're going to cut off expats. I'll fill in a blank 7162 if I don't get the form by mid July, then if it comes later use the printed envelope and mail it again, NO EMS or registered, then email Manilla in September for confirmation as I've done the last few years. I don't expect any trouble, but if they don't have it by then, I'll send it again, maybe also to Manilla as a PDF scan attached to an email. I believe they can ensure it gets to the right place.  All these extra precautions probably add to the current heavy workload, but many of us are on edge and would be badly hurt w/o the checks. I must say Manilla has always been helpful though harder to reach by phone than it used to be. Hopefully, I can avoid the temptation to rile folks as I too often do. 

[RPCVguy]

On 6/23/2025 at 5:57 PM, MJoe said:

Y’All, what are we going to do about this?  NO ONE who usually has their 7162 form by now, has received it.  The forms aren’t still “on the way”.  The SSA’s 7162 system is automated.  The auto-generated form (specifically barcoded by year), are fed into an automated computer system when they are returned (which retains your payments if the computer reads “your circumstances haven’t changed”).  If you don’t return the computer generated barcoded form, the system stops your benefits in February 2026.  There isn’t a staff person that is going to manually check any returned paperwork outside their automated system.  And clearly the automated system isn’t operating this year.  It was hard enough to get reinstated if your benefits get stopped in the past.  Now it will be an absolute nightmare to try to get them reinstated.

I had clean photos of my form from 2024 that show the bar coding you discuss. I printed those out, front and back, completed them and signed/dated anew. In the box above the signature I added a comment that the 2025 form never arrived.
New photos and mailed air mail. (68 baht - I too have learned that the registered mail stops at the Wilkes-Barr Postal center. That year I got help from my congressman's office to get a form to SSA.)