U.S. Embassy in Colombia Issues New ‘Proof of Life’ Rule for Social Security Beneficiaries Here

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia announced February 4 that U.S. citizens living in Colombia and receiving Social Security retirement benefits now have to follow a new procedure to show “proof of life.”

According to the Embassy announcement (see:https://co.usembassy.gov/message-for-u-s-social-security-beneficiaries/), “as part of the Foreign Enforcement Program, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently informed us that there are over 2,000 Social Security recipients residing in Colombia who have not returned the required ‘Proof of Life’ form (Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire) to the U.S. Social Security Administration.

“If you have not yet returned your proof of life form, please do so immediately. Please note that the Social Security Administration will suspend your benefits in February 2019 if they did not receive the completed form.

“If your benefits have been suspended, please visit the following link to download the “Proof of Life” form and instructions on how to submit your form, https://cr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security/not-get-february-payment/

“Please note the U.S. Embassy in Bogota cannot receive or process the forms for beneficiaries. If you mailed your ‘Proof of Life’ form to the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, then you have NOT submitted your form correctly.”

“In order to reinstate the benefits you must take the following actions: Complete the SSA-7162 form (Pdf-157Kb) if you receive payments in your own name; [or] complete the SSA-7161 form (Pdf-484Kb) if you receive payments through a representative payee.

“Please make sure to include your social security number; sign; and date the form.

“Where to send the completed form: Email a scanned pdf copy of the completed form to FBU.Santo.Domingo@ssa.gov using as subject: FEQ-country where you live-last name of the worker’s record under which you receive benefits (sample: FEQ-Colombia-Perez); or fax it to 506-2291-1032.

“Then, mail the original completed and signed form to:
Social Security Administration
Wilkes Barre Data Operations Center
Attention: FEQ Analyst, FEQ Forms 7161-7162
1150 E. Mountain Dr.
Room 341
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702-7997

“We will reinstate your benefits within 5 to 10 business days from receiving your e-mail or fax.”