ATT: American Retirees....

[Dante99]

I prefer not to take a chance... Registered mail with a tracking number. Peace of mind for 87 baht.

I don't think registered mail is an option any more. Only EMS for 1400 baht is shown here. http://www.thailandpost.com/index.php?page=rate_result&country_code=US&weight=14

It is. I just sent mine yesterday. Registered mail, 87 baht. I had first asked about EMS, but as you said, it was more expensive than I remembered. So I asked the counter clerk what options were available to me. She wrote out a list so that there would be no misunderstanding. She said EMS - four days, Registered mail - two weeks, and regular mail 18 baht - two weeks. I asked which had a tracking number, and she replied that both EMS and Registered would give me the number. No need for a 4-day delivery, so I chose Registered Mail. The clerk circled my tracking number for me.

I did this at ไปรษณีย์สามแยกสวนปรุง 6 มหิดล, อ.เมืองเชียงใหม่, Chiang Mai 50210 Post office on Mahidol Rd, just south-west of the corner of the moat.

18.780059, 98.976788 on Google Map.

I have been told by the post office here that it was not available. If it they said it was possible mine would of gone that way. Spent 600 baht for EMS 2 years ago when all I got was the 2nd notice.

There is little reason to expect all the Post Offices to be the same, consistency in Thailand? I send registered from my PO without a problem, most recently about 4 weeks ago.

PO Fun: About 5 weeks ago I after many decades of abstinence sent an absentee ballot and today found it in my own mailbox, no note, sticker or stamp indicating any problem. Perhaps my address preprinted on the back of the mail-in envelope was determined to be the place to send it but 5 weeks between Mae Joe and Mae Rim? Well my guy lost by a lot so my ballot would have been meaningless which is what I have almost always thought about them for 45 years.

[silverhawk_usa]

https://www.pdffiller.com/100106697-fillable-where-do-i-mail-form-ssa7162-from-outside-usa-secure-ssa

LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN EFAX USING THIS METHOD.....OR DROP IT OFF AT THE CONSULATE.

Embassy says no to dropping form off.

Do you have an e-fax number? The form only shows a mailing address.

This is not SSA link. I don't how you got this link, but it is basically a scam. After you complete the form they want you to pay to join their online service.

[Frank James]

What do you do if you are no longer alive?

Just because someone is dead, should not affect their right to vote!

--A Politician from Chicago

[oldlakey]

What do you do if you are no longer alive?

Consult George Washington

[FolkGuitar]

I prefer not to take a chance... Registered mail with a tracking number. Peace of mind for 87 baht.

I don't think registered mail is an option any more. Only EMS for 1400 baht is shown here. http://www.thailandpost.com/index.php?page=rate_result&country_code=US&weight=14

It is. I just sent mine yesterday. Registered mail, 87 baht. I had first asked about EMS, but as you said, it was more expensive than I remembered. So I asked the counter clerk what options were available to me. She wrote out a list so that there would be no misunderstanding. She said EMS - four days, Registered mail - two weeks, and regular mail 18 baht - two weeks. I asked which had a tracking number, and she replied that both EMS and Registered would give me the number. No need for a 4-day delivery, so I chose Registered Mail. The clerk circled my tracking number for me.

I did this at ไปรษณีย์สามแยกสวนปรุง 6 มหิดล, อ.เมืองเชียงใหม่, Chiang Mai 50210 Post office on Mahidol Rd, just south-west of the corner of the moat.

18.780059, 98.976788 on Google Map.

I have been told by the post office here that it was not available. If it they said it was possible mine would of gone that way. Spent 600 baht for EMS 2 years ago when all I got was the 2nd notice.

Try a different post office? As I just sent mine yesterday from a Chiang Mai post office, it seems to be available. They quoted me 1400 baht for EMS yesterday so it appears there have been changes made.

[JLCrab]

Sent it back yesterday 28 baht for regular airmail because that's how they sent it to me.

[NancyL]

Sent it back yesterday 28 baht for regular airmail because that's how they sent it to me.

That's what we did. They'll send you a second letter if they don't receive the reply to their first letter.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

https://www.pdffiller.com/100106697-fillable-where-do-i-mail-form-ssa7162-from-outside-usa-secure-ssa

LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN EFAX USING THIS METHOD.....OR DROP IT OFF AT THE CONSULATE.

Embassy says no to dropping form off.

Do you have an e-fax number? The form only shows a mailing address.

This is not SSA link. I don't how you got this link, but it is basically a scam. After you complete the form they want you to pay to join their online service.

you can still get the form and fill it out electronically and download it, then efax with one of the many efax services...for free...but, yeah, typical, only part of it is free. Also, I am wondering if you could just download and fax on your own terms, instead of waiting, then having a deadline for them to get it, in Wilkes-Barre? Seem like if you just casually did that every year, there wouldn't be any urgency. And registered mail to PO boxes is precarious, FEDX and UPS won't even do it, and for some reason Thai tracking numbers become worthless in the US, just like USPS numbers usually make it to LA or Chicago..then it's a guessing game. I would fax that thing for free to them unitl, they squealed like the pigs they are.

As far as ballots...they send to me via email....I drop off at the Consulate...and if I email my election official, I get a response in less than 24 hours, everytime, and I can call her for free...and that is in a metro of 5 million.

Edited June 12, 2016 by KhonKaenKowboy

[silverhawk_usa]

https://www.pdffiller.com/100106697-fillable-where-do-i-mail-form-ssa7162-from-outside-usa-secure-ssa

LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN EFAX USING THIS METHOD.....OR DROP IT OFF AT THE CONSULATE.

Embassy says no to dropping form off.

Do you have an e-fax number? The form only shows a mailing address.

This is not SSA link. I don't how you got this link, but it is basically a scam. After you complete the form they want you to pay to join their online service.

you can still get the form and fill it out electronically and download it, then efax with one of the many efax services...for free...but, yeah, typical, only part of it is free. Also, I am wondering if you could just download and fax on your own terms, instead of waiting, then having a deadline for them to get it, in Wilkes-Barre? Seem like if you just casually did that every year, there wouldn't be any urgency. And registered mail to PO boxes is precarious, FEDX and UPS won't even do it, and for some reason Thai tracking numbers become worthless in the US, just like USPS numbers usually make it to LA or Chicago..then it's a guessing game. I would fax that thing for free to them unitl, they squealed like the pigs they are.

As far as ballots...they send to me via email....I drop off at the Consulate...and if I email my election official, I get a response in less than 24 hours, everytime, and I can call her for free...and that is in a metro of 5 million.

You get A form but it is blank. You have to enter all the information that is already included on the form you received in the mail, address, social security and the codes that SSA use. After I completed the form online with this "service", it would not allow me to save it, print it or anything else, unless I paid them. No advantage to filling it out online as basically the form is just four boxes to check unless you have changed your status.

I would guess you can get the same form from the SSA site just like IRS forms, but I don't know why you would need to. I was going to check but you can only access their site during business hours and today it was down for maintenance.

I also don't see why anyone is worried about the time. You have sixty days. I am not going to search it again, but I believe it was also posted here in past years that if you're late, you get sent another second notice and have another 60(?) days. It is unlikely they will stop your benefits without giving a few chances to clear it up if they don't get your form. It is a hassle for them also to stop and start benefits.

This is my fourth year, and I am just checking the boxes, taking it to the post office and mailing it. No sweat.

[mesquite]

https://www.pdffiller.com/100106697-fillable-where-do-i-mail-form-ssa7162-from-outside-usa-secure-ssa

LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN EFAX USING THIS METHOD.....OR DROP IT OFF AT THE CONSULATE.

Embassy says no to dropping form off.

Do you have an e-fax number? The form only shows a mailing address.

This is not SSA link. I don't how you got this link, but it is basically a scam. After you complete the form they want you to pay to join their online service.

you can still get the form and fill it out electronically and download it, then efax with one of the many efax services...for free...but, yeah, typical, only part of it is free. Also, I am wondering if you could just download and fax on your own terms, instead of waiting, then having a deadline for them to get it, in Wilkes-Barre? Seem like if you just casually did that every year, there wouldn't be any urgency. And registered mail to PO boxes is precarious, FEDX and UPS won't even do it, and for some reason Thai tracking numbers become worthless in the US, just like USPS numbers usually make it to LA or Chicago..then it's a guessing game. I would fax that thing for free to them unitl, they squealed like the pigs they are.

As far as ballots...they send to me via email....I drop off at the Consulate...and if I email my election official, I get a response in less than 24 hours, everytime, and I can call her for free...and that is in a metro of 5 million.

But the ballot you have to put in a USA-stamped envelope, right?

[KhonKaenKowboy]

no, I drop it off at the Consulate....zero postage.

[Gonsalviz]

https://www.pdffiller.com/100106697-fillable-where-do-i-mail-form-ssa7162-from-outside-usa-secure-ssa

LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN EFAX USING THIS METHOD.....OR DROP IT OFF AT THE CONSULATE.

Embassy says no to dropping form off.

Do you have an e-fax number? The form only shows a mailing address.

1-877-385-0645

https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/phones.html

Who the heck has a fax machine these days. Only the government. Backward ass outfit.

[williet98248]

I don't sweat the small stuff....just a tracking device to see who has paid their taxes????

Under the radar and will continue to do so until my next dirt nap.....lol....?

No. If you don't report they will assume you are dead and the checks stop coming. Happened to me several years ago. Sent in late. Was without a check for a couple of months as I tried to convince them I was not dead; just forgetful.

[fey]

Never got one of these letters in 6 years- but use my stateside address and sign into the web site at least once per month. I guess the letters only go if you use an overseas address.?I

ditto, i have everything scanned in stateside and access via the web. anything else gets mailed to my old address in cm from several years ago.

no news is good news!

[NancyL]

That's correct, if Social Security "thinks" you live in the U.S. then you won't get one of these "are you still alive" annual letters. Some people use this as a justification for maintaining the fiction with SSA that they still live in the U.S. when actually they've been living overseas for years.

The downside to this is if/when you become incapacitated and it's necessary for someone here to act on your behalf to access your monthly income to pay your medical bills/living expenses. If you've been using your brother's address back in the U.S., he can't just walk into his local SSA office and say "can I get my brother's monthly SS payment, he's in a coma in Thailand and the money is needed to pay his medical bills" But, if the money had been coming into Bangkok Bank, the U.S. Consulate could make a request and the funds would be released directly to the hospital. It's much easier here than in the U.S.

So, if you've decided to have your SS income deposited in the U.S. and then transferred here as needed (perhaps by internet), be sure that someone else understands how to do that if you should become incapacitated, but still in need of the funds. It is possible for a responsible party to be set up as a "representative payee" to manage your Social Security income, but that process takes about three months and money will probably be needed for your care during that time.

[lcp0761]

As I am getting ready to retire from the US and relocate to Thailand, this is all good information.

Question 1 --- Do I read this correctly that SSA sends all retiree's annual "are you alive" letters. Which you need to respond or it probably will impact you receiving your benefits (annuity)?

Question 2 --- If I "monthly" log into the SSA website does this mitigate/pacify this SSA action?

[Dante99]

As I am getting ready to retire from the US and relocate to Thailand, this is all good information.

Question 1 --- Do I read this correctly that SSA sends all retiree's annual "are you alive" letters. Which you need to respond or it probably will impact you receiving your benefits (annuity)?

Question 2 --- If I "monthly" log into the SSA website does this mitigate/pacify this SSA action?

1 yes

2 don't bank on it

[NancyL]

As I am getting ready to retire from the US and relocate to Thailand, this is all good information.

Question 1 --- Do I read this correctly that SSA sends all retiree's annual "are you alive" letters. Which you need to respond or it probably will impact you receiving your benefits (annuity)?

Question 2 --- If I "monthly" log into the SSA website does this mitigate/pacify this SSA action?

No. 1 Yes, if you tell SSA that you're living in Thailand (which is a good idea to do)

No. 2 No, and why would you want to waste your time logging onto the SSA website so often? As pointed out, if you don't send the letter back the first time, they'll send you another and even if they stop your payment, it's really not that big a deal to start it up again. The U.S. Consulate can help with this. Sure it takes about six weeks, but they'll "make it up to you" so you don't lose any money. Presumably, you're not going to be living from paycheck-to-paycheck, are you? It's a good idea to have cash reserves if you're retired here.

[silverhawk_usa]

As I am getting ready to retire from the US and relocate to Thailand, this is all good information.

Question 1 --- Do I read this correctly that SSA sends all retiree's annual "are you alive" letters. Which you need to respond or it probably will impact you receiving your benefits (annuity)?

Question 2 --- If I "monthly" log into the SSA website does this mitigate/pacify this SSA action?

No. 1 Yes, if you tell SSA that you're living in Thailand (which is a good idea to do)

No. 2 No, and why would you want to waste your time logging onto the SSA website so often? As pointed out, if you don't send the letter back the first time, they'll send you another and even if they stop your payment, it's really not that big a deal to start it up again. The U.S. Consulate can help with this. Sure it takes about six weeks, but they'll "make it up to you" so you don't lose any money. Presumably, you're not going to be living from paycheck-to-paycheck, are you? It's a good idea to have cash reserves if you're retired here.

No. 1 As you approach age 65 (if you haven't already) they will also send you Medicare information and forms.

[Trujillo]

Interestingly, as an American living overseas over 30 years, I have no idea at all what this thread could possibly be about.

AT&T? I thought they were a telephone company or something...

[FolkGuitar]

Interestingly, as an American living overseas over 30 years, I have no idea at all what this thread could possibly be about.

AT&T? I thought they were a telephone company or something...

Let me summarize it for you.

If you are an American collecting Social Security and having your Social Security check sent to a foreign address rather than to a U.S. address or bank, the Social Security Administration will send you a form letter once a year to verify your living situation; i.e. address, work status, marital status, etc. This form must be signed and returned within a specified period of time or else your S.S. income will be withheld.

If your S.S. income is sent to a US address you will not receive this form.

[Srikcir]

Interestingly, as an American living overseas over 30 years, I have no idea at all what this thread could possibly be about.

AT&T? I thought they were a telephone company or something...

Let me summarize it for you.

If you are an American collecting Social Security and having your Social Security check sent to a foreign address rather than to a U.S. address or bank, the Social Security Administration will send you a form letter once a year to verify your living situation; i.e. address, work status, marital status, etc. This form must be signed and returned within a specified period of time or else your S.S. income will be withheld.

If your S.S. income is sent to a US address you will not receive this form.

While your SS direct bank deposits may go to a bank with an address in the USA, if you indicated to the Social Security that you have a foreign residential address, you will still get the form mailed to your foreign residence.

[FolkGuitar]

Interestingly, as an American living overseas over 30 years, I have no idea at all what this thread could possibly be about.

AT&T? I thought they were a telephone company or something...

Let me summarize it for you.

If you are an American collecting Social Security and having your Social Security check sent to a foreign address rather than to a U.S. address or bank, the Social Security Administration will send you a form letter once a year to verify your living situation; i.e. address, work status, marital status, etc. This form must be signed and returned within a specified period of time or else your S.S. income will be withheld.

If your S.S. income is sent to a US address you will not receive this form.

While your SS direct bank deposits may go to a bank with an address in the USA, if you indicated to the Social Security that you have a foreign residential address, you will still get the form mailed to your foreign residence.

Hmmm... That's right! Thanks for the correction. I guess it's all up to if S.S. believes you are living outside the US.