How SSA-7162 Deadlines Affect Foreign Social Security Benefits
Who must complete SSA-7162 and how often
SSA uses two Foreign Enforcement Questionnaires (FEQs): SSA-7162 (beneficiaries who manage their own payments) and SSA-7161 (for representative payees). Frequency depends on age, location, and beneficiary category.
| Situation | Form | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary abroad with a representative payee | SSA-7161 | Annual | Temporary exemptions exist for some payees under the 2018 law; otherwise annual. |
| Beneficiary abroad aged 90+ | SSA-7162 | Annual | High-risk for non-response, SSA requests yearly confirmation. |
| Beneficiary abroad in many countries (e.g., Brazil, Portugal, UK, Canada, Spain, etc.) | SSA-7162 | Biennial | Form sent to half the group each year by terminal SSN digit: 00–49 even years, 50–99 odd years. |
| Countries with mail service suspensions/sanctions | SSA-7161/7162 | Special handling | SSA may coordinate delivery via a Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) instead of postal mail. |
Deadlines & the enforcement timeline
Understanding the calendar helps you avoid payment interruptions.
Return options: where and how to send your SSA-7162
1) Mail directly to SSA (preferred)
Use the pre-addressed envelope that comes with your form. If you need the address:
Social Security Administration
Wilkes-Barre Direct Operations Center (WBDOC)
P.O. Box 7162
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18767-7162, USA
- Return within 60 days of receipt.
- Use dark ink, sign the back, and keep a copy.
- Consider a postal option with tracking from your country.
2) Through a U.S. Embassy/Consulate FBU
Many U.S. embassies/consulates host a Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) that can accept your completed SSA-7162, verify identity, and forward it to WBDOC for scanning.
- Useful if local mail is unreliable or suspended.
- Bring valid ID and your signed form. Some FBUs require appointments.
- After a suspension, FBUs can help you submit the form to resume benefits quickly.
How to fill the form correctly (step-by-step)
- Read the one-page instruction sheet that comes with the form.
- Use black ink; print clearly. Keep your “X” inside the YES/NO boxes.
- Update your address/phone if what’s pre-printed is no longer correct.
- Answer the six questions on page 1. If you mark YES for any item, complete the matching block on page 2.
- Sign and date page 2. If you sign with a mark, a witness must sign as well.
- Mail it in the provided envelope (or take it to an FBU) within 60 days.
- Citizenship or residence changes may affect eligibility or payment rules.
- Marital status changes can alter auxiliary/spousal benefits.
- Work activity may affect earnings-tested benefits before full retirement age.
- Child-in-care questions verify continuing entitlement for certain beneficiaries.
If you miss the deadline
Non-response consequences: SSA issues a fall follow-up, then sends a January suspension notice if no form was received. Your February payment (covering January) is stopped until SSA scans your SSA-7162.
How to restart payments fast
- Submit the completed form immediately—by mail to WBDOC or via an FBU.
- Bring photo ID if visiting an FBU. They can verify identity/existence and forward your form for scanning.
- Watch for a catch-up payment after SSA processes the form; timing depends on when scanning completes in Wilkes-Barre.
Common pitfalls & how to avoid them
| Problem | What happens | How to avoid/fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mail delays or lost post | SSA doesn’t scan your form in time → suspension | Mail early; use a service with tracking; if your country has USPS suspensions, contact the FBU to submit locally. |
| Unsigned form | Unprocessed; treated as non-response | Double-check signature/date on page 2; witness required if signing with a mark. |
| Address changed, form never received | You miss both mailings | Keep SSA updated. If you suspect you were selected, ask your nearest FBU for help getting a replacement. |
| Representative payee assumes the 7162 applies | Wrong form returned | Payees complete SSA-7161 (not 7162), generally every year. |
Quick Guide
- When it arrives: May–June (first mailing). Return within 60 days.
- If you forget: A second notice comes in September (reply in ~45 days).
- Missed both? Expect a January suspension notice; February payment stops unless SSA scans your form.
- Return to: SSA, WBDOC, P.O. Box 7162, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18767-7162, USA (or submit via a nearby FBU).
- What to include: Signed form, any required details on reverse side, and updated address/phone.
- Pro move: Keep a copy + mailing receipt; set a yearly reminder in May.
FAQ
1) Do all beneficiaries abroad get the SSA-7162 every year?
No. Many countries are on a biennial schedule. SSA selects half the group by SSN terminal digits each year. Some categories—like age 90+ and most beneficiaries with a representative payee—are annual.
2) My country’s mail is unreliable. Can I deliver the form another way?
Yes. Contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate’s Federal Benefits Unit (FBU). They can accept your completed form, verify identity, and forward it to WBDOC for scanning.
3) I missed the 60-day window. Will I lose benefits permanently?
No. The suspension is temporary. Submit your SSA-7162 as soon as possible; once SSA scans and processes it, payments are resumed and any missed month(s) are typically paid.
4) What address do I use if I lost the return envelope?
Mail to: SSA, WBDOC, P.O. Box 7162, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18767-7162, USA. Include your SSN and contact details and sign the form.
5) Can I email or upload the SSA-7162?
SSA’s standard process is paper return by post or via an FBU. Follow your local FBU’s instructions if they offer alternative intake options; the form ultimately must be scanned by WBDOC.
6) I never received a form but heard others in my country did. Why?
You might be in the off-year of a biennial cycle, or your address on SSA’s records may be outdated. Confirm your mailing address and ask an FBU if a replacement is needed.
7) What happens after 12 months of suspension?
If SSA and the FBU cannot locate you, status can change to “whereabouts unknown” under SSA rules. This is avoidable—submit the form promptly or contact an FBU.
8) I’m under Full Retirement Age and still working abroad. Do I report it?
Yes. All work must be reported on the form. Earnings may affect benefits before full retirement age; answer the work questions on page 2.
9) I have International Direct Deposit (IDD). Do I still need to return the form?
Yes. Direct deposit does not remove the foreign enforcement requirement when you’re selected to receive the FEQ.
10) How can I make sure I never miss this again?
Set a recurring reminder for early May; keep your address current; add the mailing address above to a safe place; and consider returning via an FBU if local post is slow.
Legal / Policy basis (plain-English summary)
- Forms & instructions: SSA-7162 carries a printed warning that failure to return within 60 days results in suspension; the official instruction sheet includes the P.O. Box 7162 address in Wilkes-Barre.
- Mailing schedule: FEQs are mailed in May–June each year; SSA runs an annual/biennial selection, including a terminal-digit rule for biennial countries.
- Follow-ups & suspension: Non-responders get a September second notice (reply within ~45 days). If still no response, SSA prepares suspension in January and payments stop with the February payment for January benefits.
- Alternative intake & reinstatement: U.S. embassy/consulate FBUs can receive FEQs, verify identity, and forward to WBDOC for scanning; they also assist after suspensions.
- ☐ All YES/NO boxes marked clearly
- ☐ Reverse side completed for any “YES” answers
- ☐ Signature (and witness if signing with a mark)
- ☐ Updated address/phone if changed
- ☐ Copy saved + mailing receipt/tracking