Mr. Darrin K. Morgan, Regional Federal Benefits Officer
Social Security Administration Division
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Embassy
1131 Roxas Blvd., Ermita
0930 Manila, Philippines
Phone: (632) 301-2000 ext. 6319/6302/5085
Fax: (632) 522-1514
E-mail: FBU.Manila@ssa.gov
Website: www.ssa.gov
The Social Security Administration Division (SSAD) is headed by one American Officer, and staffed with 35 Locally Employed Staff (LES). The SSAD is configured to be like a U.S. stateside district office, providing many of the same services and functions. Its primary function is to administer SSA programs and services for people residing in the East-Asia Pacific Region. The division currently serves 74,000 beneficiaries and pays out over 37 million dollars to those individuals each month.
A unique aspect
of the SSAD in
Manila
is the amount of face to face
contacts and the field work. Fraud prevention and detection is a major
thrust of the operation. Four full time investigators travel throughout
the
Philippines
conducting
investigations and also provide service to those individuals who cannot
come into the Embassy due to distance, illness, age, etc. Services
provided by Social Security include:
§
Taking claims
for entitlement to all types of Social Security Benefits (retirement,
survivors, disability, lump sum death payment)
§
Processing
applications for new or replacement Social Security cards
§
Helping
beneficiaries re-establish entitlement
§
Processing all
post entitlement issues: change of address, direct deposit enrollment,
non-receipt of check issues, etc.
§
Clearing
earnings discrepancies
§
Answering
Social Security questions
§
Handling
Medicare enrollments and issues
ALL SERVICES
PROVIDED BY SOCIAL SECURITY ARE FREE OF CHARGE
ANNOUNCEMENT
This is to
notify the public that starting FEBRUARY 12, 2007 the SSA Division
will follow an appointment system for all applicants filing for SSA
benefits, i.e. RETIREMENT, SURVIVORS, CHILD, PARENT & BURIAL BENEFITS.
The
receptionist at the window will still entertain walk-in clients for other
SSA matters.
For general
inquiries and appointment schedule, you may contact:
Embassy Trunk line: (02) 301-2000 Extensions: 6319 or 6302 or 5085
CLAIMS and
SERVICES
Retirement
Plan
your retirement | Do
you qualify? | Already
receiving benefits
Disability
Do
you qualify? | Already
receiving benefits
Widows,
widowers, & other survivors
Report
a death | Qualify
and apply | Already
receiving benefits
Non-US citizen
claimants/beneficiaries
Residency
requirement | Alien
tax withholding
How to contact
SSA
Mail/Telephone/Fax/Email
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Plan Your Retirement
|
A large number of Americans are retiring now. The figures are expected to steadily increase until 2010 – when the majority of the baby boomers reach retirement age. Whether you are about to retire or not, it is important to plan for it. Here are some important reminders from the Social Security Administration (SSA), the agency which provides retirement benefits.
Get an estimate of your retirement benefits
The Retirement Estimator, located at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator/, provides immediate and personalized benefit estimates online to help people plan for their retirement. For younger workers, it provides valuable |
information to help them plan and save for their retirement. Because it is interactive, the Retirement Estimator allows you to compare different retirement options by changing your “stop work” dates or expected future earnings. Just as important, the Retirement Estimator is secure. The only thing it provides online is retirement benefit estimates. It does not show the earnings record information on which the final benefit estimate was calculated, nor does it reveal other personal information. The fact sheet, “When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits,” located at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html, can be used in conjunction with the Retirement Estimator. This fact sheet provides important information you should consider when deciding at what age to start receiving Social Security retirement benefits. It is intended to help you make an informed decision about when to apply for benefits based on your individual and family circumstances.
Verify
your earnings record. Each year, a Social Security Statement is being sent to every wage earner covered by SSA. You can also request the Social Security Statement online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/statement/. It shows a record of earnings and provides estimates of benefits for early retirement, full retirement, and delayed retirement. Check the accuracy of the earnings posted in the statement.
If you find any discrepancies, report it immediately to SSA and submit
proofs of correct earnings (e.g. W-2 statements). Generally, you are
eligible for retirement benefits if you have covered work for at least 10
years – which is equivalent to 40 work credits.
Apply three
months before your planned retirement age. Contact SSA
three months before you finally retire. The earliest age that you can
receive retirement benefits is age 62. At initial contact, be ready to
provide necessary information such as your Social Security number, date
and place of birth, name of spouse and minor children (if applicable),
telephone number, mailing and email addresses.
Prepare
required proofs. To avoid
delays in processing, have the basic requirements available during first
contact. These are the following: proof of age (birth certificate or
baptismal certificate), proof of citizenship (passport or naturalization
paper), proof of identity which must be of recent issuance (passport, work
ID, postal ID, or driver’s license). If you have
US
military service or is receiving other pension not covered by SSA, submit
your respective DD-214 and pension statement. Present only either the
original documents or true copies certified by the US Embassy. Photocopies
are not acceptable.
Contact SSA
Division at the
US
Embassy –
Manila
. For further information, call at telephone number 301-2000 extension 6319 or 6302 or 5085. You
may also send an inquiry via email at FBU.Manila@ssa.gov. When you
send an email, please provide details such as your Social Security Number,
full name, and place of residence. SSA employees shall gladly assist you
in applying for benefits and in giving you detailed information about any
relevant issues that may arise.
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Do You Qualify For Retirement Benefits?
|
Who is eligible for retirement?
If you were born in 1929 or later, you need to have worked for at least 10 years to be eligible for retirement benefits. If you're eligible for retirement benefits, some members of your family also can receive benefits.
When can you retire?
If you were born before 1938, your "full retirement age" is 65. Because of longer life expectancies, the full retirement age is increasing for people born after 1938. You can start your Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive each month will be less than if you start at full retirement age. |
Retirement
benefits and divorce
If you are
divorced after at least 10 years of marriage, you can collect retirement
benefits on your former spouse's Social Security record if you are at
least age 62 and if your former spouse is entitled to or receiving
benefits. If you remarry before age 60, you generally cannot collect
benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage
ends.
Benefits for
children of retirees
Social
Security Dependents' Benefits are payable to your unmarried children under
age 18, or age 19 if they're still in high school, or to your children age
18 or over who were severely disabled before age 22 and who continue to be
disabled. Benefits can continue to be paid into adulthood if your child
has a disability that began prior to age 22.
Working after
retirement
Once you
reach full retirement age (65 for people born before 1938), there is no
limit on the amount you can earn while collecting Social Security
benefits. Before age 65, your payments may be reduced depending on the
amount you earn.
Medicare and
retirement
If you're
getting Social Security benefits when you turn 65, your Medicare Hospital
Benefits start automatically. If you're not getting Social Security, you
should sign up for Medicare close to your 65th birthday, even if you
aren't ready to retire. Note, however, that medical expenses incurred
outside the
United
States
are NOT covered by
Medicare.
How to apply
for retirement benefits?
If you are
eligible for retirement benefits and you are residing in the
Philippines
, you can
file by personally visiting the Social Security Administration Division
office located at the American Embassy in
Manila
.
If you reside
in Luzon or Visayas and you are unable to travel from your residence to
Manila
due
to travel costs, distance, health reasons, and the like, you may opt to
arrange for a home visit by an SSA field representative to secure an
application from you. To do this, please contact SSAD at telephone number 301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085.
If you reside
in Davao or any province in Mindanao and you are also unable to travel to
Manila due to travel costs, distance, health reasons, and the like, the
option available to you is to personally appear or make yourself available
to participate in an outreach activity that may be held in a designated
hotel or meeting area in Davao City or some other places in Mindanao. The
American Embassy will announce the schedule of outreach activities
accordingly.
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Already Receiving Benefits
|
If you
receive retirement benefits, you should know:
How to
change your address
If you are receiving Social Security benefits, or have applied to receive them, you may report a change of address by calling our office number, 301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085. Our representatives will be glad to take the information and, if needed, give further instructions.
How to
enroll in direct deposit
Enrolling
in direct deposit is a safer, quicker, and more convenient way of
receiving Social Security
benefits.
|
In the
Philippines
, the accredited
banks for direct deposit are the following:
Allied Banking
Corporation
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Development Bank of
the
Philippines
(DBP)
Land Bank of the
Philippines
Maybank
Philippine
Veterans Bank (PVB)
China Bank
RCBC
Banco de Oro
Bank of
Commerce (BOC)
Manila Bank
Security
Bank
United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB)
Metrobank
Philippine
National Bank
Note: Each bank
has its own service charge fee, and beneficiaries that involve
representative payees may only be accepted by some banks. Please inquire
at the nearest bank branch or you may also call our SSAD office for more
information.
How work
affects your benefits
You can get
Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same
time. However, under the law, your benefits could be reduced if you earn
more than certain amounts.
How
much can you earn and still get benefits?
Under federal law, people who are receiving Social Security benefits who have not reached the full retirement age listed at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/retirechart.htm are entitled to receive all of their benefits as long as their earnings are under the limits listed at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10003.html.
How to have
federal taxes withheld from your Social Security Benefit
Although
you're not required to have federal taxes withheld from your Social
Security benefit, you may find that easier than paying lump-sum payments
out of your pocket.
You may select
what percentage of your monthly benefit amount you want withheld either
7%, 10%, 15% or 25%. Only these percentages can be used. Flat dollar
amounts are not acceptable.
Please contact
our SSAD office in
Manila
for the procedures to have this
done.
What to do when
a beneficiary dies
A family
member or other person responsible for the beneficiary's affairs should do
the following:
§
Promptly notify Social Security Administration Division of the beneficiary's death by calling 301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085
§
If monthly
benefits were being paid via direct deposit, notify the bank or other
financial institution of the beneficiary's death. Request that any funds
received for the month of death and later be returned to Social Security
as soon as possible
§
If benefits
were being paid by check, DO NOT CASH any checks received for the month in
which the beneficiary died or thereafter. Return the checks to Social
Security as soon as possible.
About one-time
lump sum death benefit
A one-time
payment of $255 is payable to the surviving spouse if he or she was living
with the beneficiary at the time of death, OR if living apart, was
eligible for Social Security benefits on the beneficiary's earnings record
for the month of death.
If there is no
surviving spouse, the payment is made to a child who was eligible for
benefits on the beneficiary's earnings record in the month of
death.
Benefits for
survivors
Monthly
survivors benefits can be paid to certain family members, including the
beneficiary's widow or widower, dependent children and dependent
parents.
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Do You Qualify for Disability Benefits?
|
How do
you qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?
To
qualify for benefits, you must first have worked in jobs covered by
Social Security. Then you must have a medical condition that meets
Social Security's definition of disability. In general, we pay
monthly cash benefits to people who are unable to work for a year or
more because of a disability.
How much
work do you need?
In
addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have
worked long enough—and recently enough—under Social Security to
qualify for disability
benefits.
|
Social Security
work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment
income. You can earn up to four credits each year.
The amount of
earnings it takes to earn a credit changes from year to year. In 2006, you
must earn $970 in covered earnings to get one Social Security or Medicare
work credit and $3,880 to get the maximum four credits for the
year.
The number of
work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your
age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which
were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled.
However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
IMPORTANT:
Remember that whatever your age is, you must have earned the required
number of work credits within a certain period ending with the time you
become disabled. Your Social Security Statement shows whether you meet the
work requirement at the time it was prepared. If you stop working under
Social Security after the date of the Statement, you may not continue to
meet the disability work requirement in the future.
What do we mean
by Disability?
The
definition of disability under Social Security is different than other
programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits
are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.
Disability
under Social Security is based on your inability to work. We consider you
disabled under Social Security rules if you cannot do work that you did
before and we decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your
medical condition(s). Your disability must also last or be expected to
last for at least one year or to result in death.
This is a
strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that
working families have access to other resources to provide support during
periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation,
insurance, savings and investments.
How do we
decide if you are disabled?
The SSA Headquarters in Baltimore reviews and makes the final determination of your disability. Generally, to decide whether you are disabled, we use a step-by-step process involving five questions located at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dqualify5.htm.
Special
Situations
Most people
who receive disability benefits are workers who qualify on their own
records and meet the work and disability requirements we have just
described. However, we want to point out some situations you may not know
about:
§
Special rules
for people who are blind
§
Benefits for
widows or widowers who are disabled
§
Benefits for
children who are disabled
Special rules
for people who are blind
There are
special rules for people who are blind or have low
vision.
We consider you
to be legally blind under Social Security rules if your vision cannot be
corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye, or if your visual
field is 20 degrees or less, even with a corrective lens. Many people who
meet the legal definition of blindness still have some sight, and may be
able to read large print and get around without a cane or a guide
dog.
If you do not
meet the legal definition of blindness, you may still qualify for
disability benefits if your vision problems alone or combined with other
health problems prevent you from working.
There are a number of special rules for people who are blind that recognize the severe impact of blindness on a person's ability to work. These rules are listed at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dqualify8.htm.
Benefits for
widows or widowers who are disabled
If
something happens to you, benefits may be payable to your widow or widower
with a disability if the following conditions are
met:
§
He or she is
between ages 50 and 60.
§
The widow or
widower meets the definition of disability for adults.
§
The disability
started before your death or within seven years after your death.
NOTE: If your widow
or widower caring for your children receives Social Security benefits, he
or she is eligible if disability starts before those payments end or
within seven years after they end.
We use the same
definition of disability for these widows and widowers as we do for
workers.
Benefits for
children who are disabled
A child
under age 18 may be disabled, but we don't need to consider the child's
disability when deciding if he or she qualifies for benefits as your
dependent. The child's benefits normally stop at age 18 unless he or she
is a full-time student in an elementary or high school (benefits can
continue until age 19) or is disabled.
For a child
with a disability to receive benefits on your record after age 18, the
following rules apply:
§
The disabling
impairment must have started before age 22, and;
§
He or she must
meet the definition of disability for adults.
NOTE: An individual
may become eligible for a disabled child's benefit from Social Security
later in life.
For example, a
worker starts collecting Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. He
has a 38-year old son who has had cerebral palsy since birth. The son will
start collecting a disabled "child's" benefit on his father's Social
Security record
Who can get
Social Security Disability Benefits?
You can get
Social Security disability benefits until age 65. When you reach age 65,
your disability benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, but
the amount remains the same.
Certain members
of your family may qualify for benefits on your record. They
include:
§
Your spouse who
is age 62 or older, or any age if he or she is caring for a child of yours
who is under age 16 or disabled and also receiving checks.
§
Your disabled
widow or widower age 50 or older.
§
Your unmarried
son or daughter, including an adopted child, or, in some cases, a
stepchild or grandchild. The child must be under age 18 or under age 19 if
in high school full time.
§
Your unmarried
son or daughter, age 18 or older, if he or she has a disability that
started before age 22.
If you become
the parent of a child (including an adopted child, i.e. adoption must be
decreed by a
US
court) after you begin
receiving Social Security benefits, be sure to notify us so that we can
determine if the child qualifies for benefits.
How to apply
for Disability Benefits?
Apply as
soon as you become totally disabled. You can file:
By personally
visiting the Social Security Administration Division office located at the
American Embassy in
Manila
.
If you reside in Luzon or Visayas and you are unable to travel from your residence to Manila due to travel costs, distance, health reasons, and the like, you may opt to arrange for a home visit by an SSA field representative to secure an application from you. To do this, please contact SSAD at telephone number 301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085.
If you reside
in Davao or any province in Mindanao and you are also unable to travel to
Manila due to travel costs, distance, health reasons, and the like, the
option available to you is to personally appear or make yourself available
to participate in an outreach activity that may be held in a designated
hotel or meeting area in Davao City or some other places in Mindanao. The
American Embassy will announce the schedule of outreach activities
accordingly.
NOTE: You may
receive back benefits from the date you became disabled, but they're
limited to one year before the date you filed for
benefits
How to speed up
your Disability Claim?
It
generally takes from six months to one year to process claims for
disability benefits. You can help shorten the process by bringing certain
documents with you when you apply and helping us to get any other medical
evidence you need to show you are disabled. These
include:
§
the Social
Security number and proof of age for each person applying for payments
including your spouse and children, if they are applying for benefits;
§
names,
addresses and phone numbers of doctors, hospitals, clinics and
institutions that treated you and dates of treatment;
§
names of all
medications you are taking;
§
medical records
from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers;
§
laboratory and
test results;
§
a summary of
where you worked and the kind of work you did;
§
a copy of your
W-2 Form (Wage and Tax Statement), or, if you are self-employed, your
federal tax return for the past year; and
§
dates of prior
marriages if your spouse is applying.
You also should
be ready to answer other questions we must ask.
Don't delay
filing for benefits just because you don't have all the information and
documents you need. The people at the Social Security office will be glad
to help you.
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Already Receiving Benefits
|
If you
receive disability benefits, you should know
about:
How to
change your address
If you are receiving Social Security benefits, or have applied to receive them, you may report a change of address by calling our office number, 301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085. Our representatives will be glad to take the information and, if needed, give further instructions.
|
How to enroll
in direct deposit
Enrolling
in direct deposit is a safer, quicker, and more convenient way of
receiving Social Security benefits.
In the
Philippines
, the accredited
banks for direct deposit are the following:
Allied Banking
Corporation
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Development Bank of
the
Philippines
(DBP)
Land Bank of the
Philippines
Maybank
Overseas
United Bank (OUB)
Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB)
Security
Bank
China Bank
RCBC
Equitable-PCI Bank
Bank of Commerce
(BOC)
Manila Bank
Prudential Bank
Security Bank
United Coconut
Planters Bank (UCPB)
Metrobank
Philippine National
Bank
NOTE: Each bank has
its own service charge fee, and beneficiaries that involve representative
payees may only be accepted by some banks. Please inquire at the nearest
bank branch or you may also call our SSAD office for more
information.
When your
payments start
Under the
law, your payments cannot begin until you have been disabled for at least
five months. Payments usually start with your sixth month of disability.
When Social Security tells you that you will be receiving disability
benefit payments, the notice explains how much your disability benefit
will be and when your payments start.
NOTE: If your family
members are eligible for benefits based on your work, they will receive a
separate notice.
How long
payments continue
Generally,
your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition
has not improved and you cannot work. Benefits will not necessarily
continue indefinitely. Because of advances in medical science and
rehabilitation techniques, many people with disabilities recover from
serious accidents and illnesses.
Your case will
be reviewed at regular intervals to make sure you are still disabled. You
are responsible for reporting if your medical condition improves, if there
is any change in your ability to work or if you return to
work.
If you disagree
with a decision we make
If you have
any questions about your payment amount or any other information we may
send you, please contact us. If you disagree with a decision we make, you
have the right to appeal the decision.
Your request
must be in writing and delivered to our Social Security office within 60
days of the date you receive the letter containing our
decision.
Cost-of-Living
Adjustments
Each
January, your benefits will increase automatically if the cost of living
has gone up. For example, if the cost of living has increased by 2
percent, your benefits also will increase by 2 percent. If you receive
your benefits by direct deposit, we will notify you in advance of your new
benefit amount. If you receive your benefits by check, we will include a
notice explaining the cost-of-living adjustment with your
check.
What you must
report to us
It is
important to notify us promptly—either in person, by phone or by
mail—whenever a change occurs that could affect your benefits. The changes
you need to report to us are described below.
Family members
receiving benefits based on your work also should report events that might
affect their payments.
Information you
give to another government agency may be provided to Social Security by
the other agency, but you also must report the change directly to
us.
NOTE: If we find
that you gave us false information on purpose, your benefits will be
stopped. For the first violation, your benefits will be stopped for six
months; for the second violation, 12 months; and for the third, 24 months.
Also, if you do not report a change, it may result in your being paid too
much. If you are overpaid, you will have to repay the
money.
Have your claim
number handy when you report a change. If you receive benefits based on
your own work, your claim number is the same as your Social Security
number followed by the letters “HA.” If you receive benefits on someone
else’s work, your claim number will be the other person’s Social Security
number followed by a different letter. The award notice you received when
your benefits started shows your claim number. You also should be prepared
to give the date of the change, and, if different, the name of the person
about whom the report is made.
If you work
while receiving disability payments
You should
tell us if you take a job or become self-employed, no matter how little
you earn. If you are still disabled, you will be eligible for a trial work
period, and you can continue receiving benefits for up to nine months.
Also, tell us if you have any special work expenses because of your
disability (such as specialized equipment, a wheelchair or even some
prescription drugs) or if there is any change in the amount of the
expenses.
If you
move
When you
plan to move, tell us your new address and phone number as soon as you
know them. Even if you receive your benefits by direct deposit, we must
have your correct address so we can send letters and other important
information to you. Your benefits will be stopped if we are unable to
contact you.
If you are
unable to manage your benefits
Sometimes
people are unable to manage their money. When this happens, Social
Security should be notified. We can arrange to send benefits to a relative
or other person who agrees to use the money to take care of the person for
whom the benefits are paid. We call the person who manages someone else’s
benefits a “representative payee.”
Reviewing your
medical condition
All people
receiving disability benefits must have their medical conditions reviewed
from time to time. Your benefits will continue unless there is strong
proof that your condition has improved medically and that you are able to
return to work.
Frequency of
reviews
How often
your medical condition is reviewed depends on how severe it is and the
likelihood it will improve. Your award notice tells you when you can
expect your first review.
§
Medical
improvement expected—if your condition is expected to improve within a
specific time, your first review will be six to 18 months after you
started getting disability benefits.
§
Improvement
possible—if improvement in your medical condition is possible, your case
will be reviewed about every three years.
§
Improvement not
expected—if your medical condition is unlikely to improve, your case will
be reviewed only about once every five to seven years.
What happens
during a review
We will
send you a letter telling you that we are conducting a review. Soon after
that, someone from Social Security office will contact you to explain the
review process and your appeal rights. The Social Security representative
will ask you to provide information about your medical treatment and any
work that you may have done.
A team
consisting of a disability examiner and a doctor will review your file and
request your medical reports. You may be asked to have a special
examination. We will pay for the examination and some of your
transportation costs.
When a decision
is made, we will send you a letter. If we decide that you still are
disabled, your benefits will continue.
If we decide
you no longer are disabled and you disagree, you can file an appeal. If
you decide not to appeal the decision, your benefits will stop three
months after we decide that your disability ended.
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Report a death
|
Please
accept our condolences for your loss.
You can report the death to a service representative by calling our office number, 301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on business days. Whenever you call, have your Social Security number handy.
If you're
getting disability or retirement benefits on your spouse's record
when he or she dies, we will change your payments to survivors
benefits.
If you're
getting benefits on your own record, apply for |
survivors
benefits. Call or visit us to find out if you can get more money as a
widow or widower.
Benefits for
your children will be changed automatically to survivors benefits after
the death is reported to us.
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Do You Qualify For Survivors Benefits?
|
Definition
of survivors benefits
When
a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain
members of the family may be eligible for survivors benefits. Up to
ten years of work is needed to be eligible for benefits, depending
on the person's age at the time of death.
Who is
eligible for survivors benefits?
Social
Security survivors benefits can be paid to:
- A widow/widower --
full benefits at full retirement age (currently age 65), or
reduced benefits as early as age 60
|
-
§
A disabled
widow/widower -- as early as age 50
§
A widow/widower
at any age if he or she takes care of the deceased's child who is under
age 16 or disabled, and receiving Social Security benefits
§
Unmarried
children under 18, or up to age 19 if they are attending high school full
time. Under certain circumstances, benefits can be paid to stepchildren,
grandchildren, or adopted children.
§
Children at any
age who were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled.
§
Dependent
parents age 62 or older.
How does work
affect survivors benefits?
You can
receive Social Security survivors benefits and work at the same time.
However, depending on your age, your benefits could be reduced if you earn
more than certain amounts.
How does
divorce affect survivors benefits?
If your
divorced spouse dies, you can receive benefits as a widow/widower if the
marriage lasted 10 years or longer and you are age 60 or older (or age 50
if you are disabled.) Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse who is
60 or older (age 50 if disabled) will not affect the benefit rates for
other survivors receiving benefits.
How does
remarriage affect survivors benefits?
In general,
you cannot receive survivors benefits if you remarry before the age of 60
unless the latter marriage ends, whether by death, divorce, or annulment.
If you remarry after age 60 (50 if disabled), you can still collect
benefits on your former spouse's record. When you reach age 62 or older,
you may get retirement benefits on the record of your new spouse if they
are higher.
Your remarriage
would have no effect on the benefits being paid to your children.
-
How does
retirement affect survivors’ benefits?
If you are
collecting survivors benefits, you can switch to your own retirement
benefits (assuming you are eligible and your retirement rate is higher
than the widow/widower’s rate) as early as age 62.
In many cases,
you can begin receiving retirement benefits either on your own or your
spouse’s record at age 62 and then switch to the other benefit when you
reach full retirement age, if that amount is higher.
-
How to
apply?
You can
file for survivors benefits by personally visiting the Social Security
Administration Division office located at the American Embassy in
Manila
.
If you reside
in Luzon or Visayas and you are unable to travel from your residence to
Manila
due
to travel costs, distance, health reasons, and the like, you may opt to
arrange for a home visit by an SSA field representative to secure an
application from you. To do this, please contact SSAD at telephone number
301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085.
If you reside
in Davao or any province in Mindanao and you are also unable to travel to
Manila due to travel costs, distance, health reasons, and the like, the
option available to you is to personally appear or make yourself available
to participate in an outreach activity that may be held in a designated
hotel or meeting area in Davao City or some other places in Mindanao. The
American Embassy will announce the schedule of outreach activities
accordingly.
When you apply,
please be ready to supply the information we need to approve your
application for these benefits:
§
Lump Sum Death
Payment (LSDP),
§
Widow’s,
Widower’s, or Surviving Divorced Spouse,
§
Mother’s or
Father’s, or
§
Parent’s
When you apply
for Lump-Sum Death Payment
Whether you
visit our SSAD office at the American Embassy in
Manila
or you have
arranged for a field visit or outreach activity, we want your visit to go
as smoothly as possible. You can help by being ready to answer the
following questions and having as many of the needed documents as
possible. Don’t delay filing your claim just because you don’t have all
the documents. We’ll help you get them.
When you apply
for the death benefit, we will ask you:
§
Your name and
social security number;
§
The deceased
worker’s name, gender, date of birth and social security number;
§
The deceased
worker’s date and place of death;
§
Whether the
deceased worker ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or
Supplemental Security Income (if so, we will also ask for information on
whose Social Security record he or she applied);
§
Whether the
deceased worker was unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or
conditions at any time during the 14 months before his or her death (if
“Yes,” we will also ask when he or she became unable to work)
§
Whether the
deceased worker was ever in the active military service (if “Yes,” we will
also ask for the dates of his or her service)
§
Whether the
deceased worker worked for the railroad industry for 7 years or more;
§
Whether the
deceased worker earned social security credits under another country’s
social security system;
§
The names,
dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of any of
the deceased worker’s former spouses and the dates of the marriages and
how and when they ended;
§
The names of
any of the deceased worker’s unmarried children under 18, 18-19 and in
secondary school or disabled prior to age 22;
§
The amount of
the deceased worker’s earnings in the year of death and the preceding
year;
§
Whether the
deceased worker had a parent who was dependent on the worker for ½ of his
or her support at the time of the worker’s death; and
§
Whether the
deceased worker and surviving spouse were living together at the time of
death.
If you are the
surviving spouse, we will also ask:
§
Whether you
have been unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at
any time within the past 14 months (if "Yes," we will also ask when you
became unable to work);
§
Whether you or
anyone else ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or
Supplemental Security Income on your behalf (if so, we will also ask for
information on whose Social Security record you applied); and
§
The names,
dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of any of
your former spouses and the dates of the marriages and how and when they
ended.
If you are not
the surviving spouse, we will also ask for the surviving spouse's name and
address.
When you apply
for Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving Divorced Spouse’s
Benefits
Whether you
visit our SSAD office at the American Embassy in Manila or you have
arranged for a field visit or outreach activity, we want your visit to go
as smoothly as possible. You can help by being ready to answer the
following questions and having as many of the needed documents as
possible. Don’t delay filing your claim just because you don’t have all
the documents. We’ll help you get them.
When you apply
for widow's or widower's benefits, we will ask you:
§
Your name and
social security number;
§
Your name at
birth (if different);
§
The worker's
name, gender, social security number, date of birth, date of death, and
place of death;
§
Your date of
birth and place of birth (State or foreign country);
§
Whether a
public or religious record was made of your birth before age 5;
§
The State or
foreign country of the worker's fixed permanent residence at the time of
death;
§
Whether you or
anyone else has ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or
Supplemental Security Income on your behalf (if so, we will also ask for
information on whose Social Security record you applied);
§
Whether the
worker ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or Supplemental
Security Income (if so, we will also ask for information on whose Social
Security record you applied);
§
Whether you
have been unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at
any time within the past 14 months (if "Yes," we will also ask when you
became unable to work)
§
Whether the
worker was unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at
any time during the 14 months before his or her death (if "Yes," we will
also ask when you became unable to work)
§
Whether you or
the worker were ever in the active military service before 1968 and, if
so, the dates of service and whether you receive or are eligible to
receive a pension from a military of Federal civilian agency;
§
Whether you or
the worker worked for the railroad industry;
§
Whether you or
the worker ever earned social security credits under another country's
social security system;
§
Whether you
qualified for or expect to receive a pension or annuity based on your own
employment with the Federal government of the
United
States
or one of its States or local
subdivisions;
§
The names,
dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of any of
your or the worker's former spouses;
§
The dates of
each of your marriages and, for marriages that have ended, how and when
they ended;
§
The dates of
each of the worker's marriages and how and when they ended;
§
The amount of
the worker's earnings in the year of death and the preceding year;
§
Whether the
worker had earnings in all years since 1978;
§
The amount of
your earnings for this year, last year and next year;
§
Whether the
worker had a parent who was dependent on the worker for ½ of his or her
support at the time of the worker's death or at the time the worker became
disabled;
§
Whether you
were living with the worker at the time of death;
§
The month you
want your benefits to begin; and
§
If you are
within 3 months of age 65, whether you want to enroll in supplemental
Medical Insurance (Part B of Medicare)
Depending on
the information you provide, we may need to ask other
questions.
When you apply
for Mother’s or Father’s Benefits
Whether you
visit our SSAD office at the American Embassy in
Manila
or you have
arranged for a field visit or outreach activity, we want your visit to go
as smoothly as possible. You can help by being ready to answer the
following questions and having as many of the needed documents as
possible. Don’t delay filing your claim just because you don’t have all
the documents. We’ll help you get them.
When you apply
for mother's or father's benefits, we will ask you:
§
Your name and
social security number;
§
he deceased
worker's name, gender and social security number;
§
Your name at
birth (if different);
§
Your date of
birth and place of birth (State or foreign country);
§
Whether you or
anyone else has ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or
Supplemental Security Income on your behalf (if so, we will also ask for
information on whose Social Security record you applied);
§
Whether you
have ever worked for the railroad industry;
§
Whether you
have been unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at
any time within the past 14 months (if "Yes," we will also ask when you
became unable to work)
§
Whether the
worker has a surviving parent who was dependent on the worker for 1/2 of
his or her support at the time of the worker's death;
§
Whether you
have earned social security credits under another country's social
security system;
§
Whether you
qualified for or expect to receive a pension or annuity based on your own
employment with the Federal government of the
United
States
or one of its States or local
subdivisions;
§
The names,
dates of birth (or age) and social security numbers (if known) of any of
your or the worker's former spouses;
§
The dates of
each of your marriages and, for marriages that have ended, how and when
they ended;
§
The dates of
each of the worker's marriages and how and when they ended
§
The names of
any unmarried children under 16 or disabled in your care;
§
The amount of
your earnings for this year, last year and next year; and
§
Whether you and
the deceased worker were living together at the time of death.
Depending on
the information you provide, we may need to ask other
questions.
When you apply
for Parent’s Benefits
Whether you
visit our SSAD office at the American Embassy in
Manila
or you have
arranged for a field visit or outreach activity, we want your visit to go
as smoothly as possible. You can help by being ready to answer the
following questions and having as many of the needed documents as
possible. Don’t delay filing your claim just because you don’t have all
the documents. We’ll help you get them.
When you apply for parent's
benefits, we will ask you:
§
Your name and
social security number;
§
Your name at
birth (if different);
§
Your deceased
child's name, gender, date of birth and social security number;
§
Your date of
birth and place of birth (State or foreign country);
§
Your deceased
child's date and place of death;
§
Whether a
public or religious record was made of your birth before age 5;
§
Whether you
were dependent on the worker for 1/2 of your support at the time of the
worker's death or at the time the worker became disabled;
§
Whether you or
anyone else has ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or
Supplemental Security Income on your behalf (if so, we will also ask for
information on whose Social Security record you applied);
§
Whether the
deceased worker ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare or
Supplemental Security Income (if so, we will also ask for information on
whose Social Security record you applied);
§
Whether you
have been unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at
any time within the past 14 months (if "Yes," we will also ask when you
became unable to work)
§
Whether the
worker was unable to work because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at
any time during the 14 months before his or her death (if "Yes," we will
also ask when you became unable to work)
§
Whether you or
the worker were ever in the active military service or worked for the
railroad industry;
§
Whether your
spouse ever worked for the railroad industry;
§
Whether you
have earned social security credits under another country's social
security system;
§
Whether you
have married since the worker's death;
§
The amount of
the worker's earnings in the year of death and the preceding year;
§
Whether the
worker had earnings in each year since 1978;
§
The amount of
your earnings for this year, last year and next year; and
§
If you are
within 3 months of age 65, whether you want to enroll in Supplemental
Medical Insurance (Part B of Medicare)
Depending on
the information you provide, we may need to ask other
questions.
Back to top...
Already Receiving Benefits
|
If you
receive survivors benefits, you should know
about:
How to
change your address
If you are receiving Social Security benefits, or have applied to receive them, you may report a change of address by calling our office number, 301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085. Our representatives will be glad to take the information and, if needed, give further instructions.
How to
enroll in direct deposit
Enrolling
in direct deposit is a safer, quicker, and more convenient way of
receiving Social Security benefits.
|
In the
Philippines
, the accredited
banks for direct deposit are the following:
Allied Banking
Corporation
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Development Bank of
the
Philippines
(DBP)
Land Bank of the
Philippines
Maybank
Overseas
United Bank (OUB)
Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB)
Security
Bank
China Bank
RCBC
Equitable-PCI Bank
Bank of Commerce
(BOC)
Manila Bank
Prudential Bank
Security Bank
United Coconut
Planters Bank (UCPB)
Metrobank
Philippine National
Bank
NOTE: Each bank has
its own service charge fee, and beneficiaries that involve representative
payees may only be accepted by some banks. Please inquire at the nearest
bank branch or you may also call our SSAD office for more
information.
Cost-of-Living
Adjustments
Each
January, your benefits will increase automatically if the cost of living
has gone up. For example, if the cost of living has increased by 2
percent, your benefits also will increase by 2 percent. If you receive
your benefits by direct deposit, we will notify you in advance of your new
benefit amount. If you receive your benefits by check, we will include a
notice explaining the cost-of-living adjustment with your
check.
What you must
report to us
It is
important to let us know as soon as possible whenever one of the changes
listed below occurs.
NOTE: Failure to
report a change may result in an overpayment. If you are overpaid, we will
recover any payments not due you. Also, if you fail to report changes in a
timely way or you intentionally make a false statement, your benefits may
be stopped. For the first violation, your benefits will stop for six
months, for the second violation, 12 months and for the third, 24
months.
You can call,
write or visit us to make a report. Have your claim number handy. If you
receive benefits based on your work, your claim number is the same as your
Social Security number. If you receive benefits on someone else’s work
record, your claim number will be shown on any letter we send you about
your benefits.
Information you give to another government agency may
be provided to Social Security by the other agency, but you also must
report the change to us.
If you
move
When you
plan to move, tell us your new address and phone number as soon as you
know them. Even if you receive your benefits by direct deposit, Social
Security must have your correct
address so we can send letters and
other important information to you. Your benefits will be stopped if we
are unable to contact you.
If you are
unable to manage your own money
Sometimes a
person is unable to manage his or her own money. When this happens, Social
Security should be notified. We can arrange to send benefits to a relative
or other person who agrees to use the money for the well-being of the
beneficiary. We call this person a “representative
payee.”
If you get
married or divorced
If you get
married or divorced, it may affect your Social Security benefits,
depending on the kind of benefits you receive.
Your benefits
may be started again if the marriage ends.
If you change
your name
If you
change your name—by marriage, divorce or court order—you need to tell us
right away. If you do not give us this information, your benefits will be
issued under your old name and, if you have direct deposit, payments may
not reach your account. If you receive checks, you may not be able to cash
them if your identification is different than the name on your
check.
If you get
benefits because you are caring for a child
If you
receive benefits because you are caring for a child who is under age 16 or
disabled, you should notify us right away if the child is no longer in
your care or changes address. Give us the name and address of the person
with whom the child is living.
A temporary
separation may not affect your benefits if you continue to exercise
parental control over the child, but your benefits will stop if you no
longer have responsibility for the child. If the child returns to your
care, we can start sending benefits to you again.
Your benefits
will end when the youngest unmarried child in your care reaches age 16
unless the child is disabled.
If your citizen
status changes
If you are
not a citizen, let us know if you become a
U.S.
citizen or your noncitizen status changes. If your noncitizen status
expires, you must give us new evidence that shows you can lawfully be in
the
United
States
.
If a
beneficiary dies
When a
person who receives Social Security benefits dies, no benefit is payable
for the month of death. For example, if a person dies in July, the
benefits received in August (which is payment for July) must be returned.
If the beneficiary has direct deposit, the financial institution must be
notified of the death as soon as possible so it can return any payments
received after the beneficiary’s death.
Family members
may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits when a retired
worker dies.
Retirement
benefits for widows or widowers
You can
switch to retirement benefits based on your own work if they are higher
than those you receive as a result of your deceased spouse’s work. These
benefits may be higher as early as age 62 or possibly as late as age 70.
The rules are complex and vary depending on your situation. If you have
not talked with a Social Security representative about retirement benefits
(or your circumstances have changed), contact the Social Security
Administration Division office at the American Embassy in
Manila
to discuss
the options available to you.
Benefits for
children
If a child
is getting benefits based on your work, there are important things you
should know about his or her benefits:
§
When a child
reaches age 18
§
A child’s
benefits stop with the month before the child reaches age 18, unless the
child is either disabled or is a full-time elementary or secondary school
student.
§
About five
months before the child’s 18th birthday, the person receiving the child’s
benefits will get a form explaining how benefits can continue.
§
A child whose
benefits stopped at age 18 can have them started again if he or she
becomes disabled before reaching age 22 or becomes a full-time elementary
or secondary school student before reaching age 19.
§
If a child is
disabled
A child can
continue to receive benefits after age 18 if he or she has a disability.
The child also may qualify for SSI disability payments. Call us for more
information.
§
If a child age
18 is a student
A child can
receive benefits until age 19 if he or she continues to be a full-time
elementary or secondary school student. When your child’s 19th birthday
occurs during a school term, benefits can be continued until completion of
the term, or for two months following the 19th birthday, whichever comes
first.
Social Security should be notified immediately if the
student drops out of school, changes from full-time to part-time
attendance, is expelled or suspended, or changes schools. We also should
be told if the student is paid by his or her employer for attending
school.
We send each student a form at the start and end of the
school year. It is important that the form is filled out and returned to
us. Benefits could be stopped if we do not receive the form.
A
student can keep receiving benefits during a vacation period of four
months or less if he or she plans to go back to school full time at the
end of the vacation.
A student who stops attending school generally
can receive benefits again if he or she returns to school full time before
age 19. The student needs to contact us to reapply for benefits.
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Residency Requirement and Alien Tax
|
Effective
January 1, 1985, all alien dependents or survivors of workers living
outside the
U.S.
are required to satisfy 5-year
U.S.
residency to be paid benefits.
The
U.S.
residency
requirement does not apply to the following
beneficiaries:
1. Beneficiary
eligible to benefits prior to January 1, 1985.
2. Citizens
of treaty countries, e.g.
Germany
,
Greece
,
Ireland
,
Israel
,
Italy
,
Japan
, and
Netherlands
(survivors
only).
3. Beneficiaries
filing on the record of a worker who died while in the
U.S.
military service, or
as a result of a service-connected disease or injury.
|
4.
Residents or citizens of countries with which the United States has a
Totalization Agreement, e.g. Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland,
and the United Kingdom.
5.
Citizens or nationals of the
United
States
.
Any beneficiary
who does not fall to any of the above must meet the residency requirement.
Residency implies a factual place of stay in the
U.S.
with
the intention to establish strong social and economic attachment through
employment, payment of taxes, membership in civic or religious
organizations, etc. Residency could either be continuous or cumulative
periods which sums up to 5 years. The residency should be satisfied during
which relationship existed between the claimant and the
worker.
A child who
cannot meet the residency on his own can meet “deemed residency”, if both
of his parents resided in the
U.S.
for at least 5 years. The
same applies to an adopted child, if the adoption was decreed in a
U.S.
court and the child was
living with or receiving one-half support for the year immediately
preceding the month in which the adoption is
decreed.
The following
is a list of suggested documents to support 5-year
U.S.
residency:
Membership
in a fraternal or social organization
|
Church
membership
|
Utility
bills addressed to beneficiary
|
Business
ownership
|
Home
ownership/Lodging arrangement
|
School
records
|
United
States Driver’s License
|
Medical
or dental records
|
Employment
Records (W-2 Forms)
|
Official
Visa or Passports
|
Entry or
Re-Entry Permits
|
Registration
Records
|
State
Identification Cards
|
Bank
Accounts
|
If this 5-year
residency requirement or any of the exceptions is not met, Social Security
monthly benefits will be suspended.
It is recommended that claimants contact our SSAD office via telephone number 301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085 to receive more information about the possible effects of this requirement on the amount of benefits received by multiple claimants applying or who have applied under one wage earner’s Social Security record.
Back to top...
Alien Tax Withholding
|
Are you a
non-resident alien who receives monthly Social Security benefits? If
yes, there are three things that you should know.
First, you are
subject to a 25.5% alien tax withholding.
Second,
if you consider yourself a
US
resident and alien
taxes were withheld from your monthly benefits, you can claim for a
refund of those incorrectly withheld taxes. To do this, you need to
prove that you have kept your
US
resident alien status.
A
“resident alien” is an individual who has been lawfully
|
admitted to the
US
for permanent residence, and
such status has not been administratively or judicially determined to have
been abandoned in accordance with immigration laws. To remove the
withholding from your benefits, you must submit to the Social Security
office a signed statement indicating you consider yourself a
US
resident and the
evidence of your
US
resident status (i.e. green
card).
To get the
refund, you must file a return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Note that IRS has a time limit for issuing refunds. You should file within
3 years of the date the return for the year in question was filed, or
within 2 years of the date the tax was paid (whichever expires
later).
Upon claiming
US
resident status, you
must understand that your worldwide income will be subject to
US
income tax in the
same manner as that of individuals living in the
US
.
On a special
note, if you are a nonresident spouse of a
US
citizen or resident, you can elect to be
treated as a
US
resident. But SSA will
continue withholding taxes as required by IRS. Although you can still
claim credit against other tax liabilities when your tax return is filed.
For tax liability questions, please write to:
Internal
Revenue Service
Assistant Commissioner (International)
Attn: IN: C:
TPS
950 L’Enfant Plaza South
S.W.,
Washington
,
D.C.
20024
Last, regardless of
your residency status, you can still claim a refund of alien taxes
withheld from your benefits by filing a return with IRS. The IRS will
formally determine any liability based on your return.
Back to
top...
How to
contact SSA
For general or
specific inquiries, you can contact SSA via mail, telephone, fax, or
email. Please indicate your complete name, Social Security Number,
residence address, and contact details when you send your inquiry for the
first time. Our contact details are:
Mailing
Address:
Social Security Administration
Division
U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs
United
States
Embassy
1131 Roxas Blvd.
, Ermita
0930
Manila
,
Philippines
Telephone
Number:
(02)
301-2000 ext. 6319 or 6302 or 5085
Fax
Number:
(02)
522-1514
Email
Address:
FBU.Manila@ssa.gov
