Living Abroad? This Form Makes Sure You Don’t Lose Social Security Benefits
10 min read
If you live outside the U.S. and didn’t receive your February Social Security payment, your benefits might have been suspended. The most common reason? The government didn’t receive your Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire — a form that confirms you’re still eligible for payments.
This form is essential because, unlike people in the U.S., those citizens living abroad don’t regularly update their status through tax filings or other government records. Without this confirmation, Social Security has no way of knowing if a beneficiary is still alive, eligible, or in the correct payment status. If the form isn’t received, benefits are automatically suspended as a precaution to prevent improper payments.
That’s why Social Security requires this form every one to two years, depending on your situation. If you missed the deadline (Dec. 31), your benefits stopped in February.
Don’t panic! You can reinstate your benefits by following a few simple steps. Keep reading to find out why this happened, how to fix it, and what to do to avoid future issues.
To keep tabs on how to get (and keep) the benefits you’ve earned, sign up for a free BenefitKarma account!
Which overseas beneficiaries lost their Social Security, and why?
People who live outside the U.S. and didn’t submit their Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire (SSA-7162 or SSA-7161) on time are seeing their benefits suspended. This mostly affects:
Retirees and beneficiaries who receive payments abroad
People with a representative payee handling their benefits
Anyone who missed the deadline to send in their form
Typically, Foreign Enforcement Questionnaires (FEQs) are mailed in May or June of each year (with a follow-up notice sent in September or October), and the deadline is Dec. 31 of the year the form is requested. If the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) doesn’t receive your form by Dec. 31, your benefits will be suspended starting in February of the following year.
For example:
If you were supposed to submit the form in 2024 but missed the deadline (Dec. 31, 2024), your benefits were suspended in February 2025.
To avoid issues, it’s best to send the form well before the deadline and confirm it was received. If your benefits have already been suspended, submit the form ASAP so they can be reinstated within about 7 business days.
The suspensions took effect in February 2025 after the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) failed to receive the required forms. If you didn’t get your payment, it’s likely because your form wasn’t processed. The good news? You can still fix it by submitting your form now!
How can I get my Social Security benefits back after I’ve lost them?
If your Social Security benefits were suspended, you need to act quickly to have them reinstated. Here’s what to do:
1. Gather your information
You’ll need your Social Security Number (SSN) and a copy of your Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire (SSA-7162 or SSA-7161), if you have it.
2. Contact the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) immediately
For U.S. citizens living abroad, you can contact the Federal Benefits Unit that serves your country of residence. Here are some general contact options:
Phone: Call the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country and ask to be connected to the Federal Benefits Unit.
Email: Most FBUs have a dedicated email address. The general format is FBU.[Location]@ssa.gov (e.g., [email protected], [email protected]).
In-person: Visit the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. However, you should call ahead for an appointment.
For specific contact information, you can refer to the Social Security Administration's website, which lists FBU contact details by country.
If you're unable to reach your local FBU, you can also try the following general Social Security Administration contact options:
U.S. Toll-Free Number: 1-800-772-1213 (available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time).
TTY Number (for deaf or hard of hearing): 1-800-325-0778.
3. Submit or confirm your form
If you haven’t sent the form yet, ask for instructions on where to send it.
If you already sent it, confirm that the FBU received it and request reinstatement.
4. Wait for processing
Once the FBU receives your form, benefits are typically reinstated within about 7 business days.
Follow up if needed.
If you don’t see your payment after a week, contact the FBU again to check on the status of your reinstatement.
What info is in the Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire?
The Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire (SSA-7162 or SSA-7161) is a simple form that Social Security uses to confirm you’re still eligible to receive benefits while living outside the U.S. It asks for:
Your personal details: Name, Social Security Number (SSN), and current address
Your payment information: How and where you receive your benefits
Your living status: A confirmation that you are still alive and eligible
Your marital status: Changes in marriage can sometimes affect benefits
Your work status: If you are working, it may impact your Social Security payments
Your representative payee information (if applicable): If someone manages your benefits for you, their details must be provided
The form is short and straightforward, but failing to return it on time will cause your benefits to be suspended.
Does everyone have to submit this form every year?
No, not everyone has to submit the Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire every year. Social Security uses a staggered schedule, meaning some people need to send in the form annually, while others receive it every other year.
Right now, you do not need to send the form if:
You are under 90 years old
You receive benefits in your own name
Your Social Security Number (SSN) ends in 50-99
If this applies to you, Social Security will mail you a form between June and August 2025 — and you have until Dec. 31 to file it. Until then, you don’t need to take any action.
If your official address is in the U.S., you can also ignore this requirement, since it only applies to people living abroad. However, if you’re unsure, it’s always a good idea to check with the Federal Benefits Unit to confirm your status.
How can I avoid this problem in the future?
To prevent benefit suspensions:
Check your mailing address with Social Security to ensure they have your correct info.
Watch for your questionnaire in the mail and return it on time.
Keep a copy of the form you send in case of issues.
Save the FBU’s contact information so you can follow up if needed.