Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Apply for Social Security Retirement, Medicare Only, and Disability?

We encourage you to file online for Social Security retirement, spouse, Medicare Only, or disability on the internet at the Social Security website or by clicking on this link.

It is secure, fast, and easy. Once you submit the application online, print the receipt, and wait. We will contact you in about six to eight weeks to review your claim, to take applications for other eligible family members, and to request needed documents.

If you are unable to find an answer, submit your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form.

If you have questions about working outside the United States while you receive benefits, read Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States (PDF – 429KB). If you are under your Full Retirement Age, you will not be eligible for benefits for every month you work more than 45 hours outside the United States in employment or self-employment (not subject to U.S. Social Security taxes). It doesn’t matter how much you earned or how many hours you worked each day. You will be considered to be working on any day you:

Work as an employee or self-employed person;
Have an agreement to work even if you do not actually work because of sickness, vacation, etc.; or
Are the owner or part owner of a trade or business even if you do not actually work in the trade or business or receive any income from it.

Generally, if your benefits are withheld because of your work, we cannot pay benefits to anyone else receiving benefits on your record for that month. However, the work of others receiving benefits on your record affects only their own benefits. Under certain conditions, if your work is covered by U.S. Social Security, the work performed outside the U.S. by a U.S. citizen or resident is covered by the U.S. Social Security program. If your work is covered by the U.S. Social Security, the same annual retirement test that applies to people in the U.S. applies to you.

How Do I Enroll in Direct Deposit or Change My Bank Information?

There are many options for direct deposit; we do not recommend one over the other. You can send the information below for the type of direct deposit you are requesting along with your name, telephone number, last four digits of your Social Security number, mailing address to the On Line Inquiry Form and we will contact you to make the change.

If you want to enroll in a U.S. Dollar Account and you are residing in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, you must go to the following Bank Organizations only. Important Note: You must mention at the financial institution that you want to apply for a U.S. Dollar Account for U.S. Retirement Benefits:

First International Bank of Israel Ltd.’s
Bank Hapoalim
Bank of Jordan

If you want to enroll in a local bank account in the local currency, you must provide us with the bank number, branch number and your account number. Send the information to the Federal Benefits Unit.

If you are unable to find an answer, submit your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form.

If you have a bank in the U.S. already opened, you must provide the U.S. bank Routing Transit Number, your bank account number, and specify the type of the account (Checking or Savings). For faster service, send this information by completing the Online Inquiry Form.

How Do I Apply For or Correct a Social Security Number?

The documents required for a Social Security number depend on the situation. Please follow the instructions below regarding the type of application you are submitting. IMPORTANT NOTE: All applications for original cards have additional requirements, which delay the process and take about eight to ten months.

How do I apply for an original first time Social Security number for myself or my child age 12 or older?

All applicants over the age of 12 must appear in person. It is important you follow all instructions and complete all actions listed below before you schedule an online appointment. When we schedule the appointment, you will receive an official email confirming the date and time.

You must bring your original documents plus one photocopy of each document to your appointment.

It is very rare for a U.S. citizen above the age of 12 not to have been assigned a Social Security number. The most common reason for such an occurrence is a child born in the United States who moved abroad while very young.

1.) You must submit original plus one photocopy of documents to prove that absence from the United States is the reason a Social Security number was never assigned. The documentation must be comprehensive and date from the time the person departed the United States to the present to provide sufficient evidence.

The documentation can include:

School records such as report cards or a letter from the school confirming dates of attendance
Travel documents such as current or canceled passports (U.S. or other)
Employment records
Medical records
Proof of registration with a doctor or clinic

2.) Download, complete, and sign the Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5-FS. All questions must be answered and legible. Please type or print the answers.

3.) Provide the following original documents plus one photocopy of each document to prove age, citizenship, and identity, and identity of parent signing the application if child under age 18.

Proof of Your Age (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

Original U.S. birth certificate along with a completed Form SSA- L706. It must be signed and submitted, along with the application and other documentation. This allows the Social Security Administration to verify the birth record with the custodian of the record
Foreign birth certificate
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)

Proof of U.S. citizenship (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

Original U.S. birth certificate, or U.S. Passport (unexpired)
Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Original Naturalization or Citizenship Certificate

Proof of identity (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

Original U.S. passport, unexpired and signed
Original foreign passport, unexpired and signed
Proof of the identity of the parent signing the application, if applicable – a parent can sign the form for a child up to age 18; a child can sign the form above age 12. (Provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)
- U.S. or foreign passport, unexpired and signed
- Driver’s License
- Country or national ID card with a current photo

For more details visit this website.

2 . How do I apply for a Social Security number for my child under age 12?

Applicants under age 12 applying for Social Security cards must MAIL (or use the drop box) their applications along with the ORIGINAL required documents to the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem via courier service and we will return their documents via courier service.

To apply for a Social Security number for a child under age 12, the following steps are required:

1.) Download, complete, and sign the Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5-FS. All questions must be answered and legible. Please type or print the answers.

Send ONE of the following original plus a copy

Original U.S. birth certificate. If you do not have the U.S. birth certificate, complete Form SSA- L706. It must be signed and submitted, along with the application and other documentation. This allows the Social Security Administration to verify the birth record with the custodian of the record.
Foreign birth certificate
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)

Proof of U.S. citizenship (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

Original U.S. birth certificate, or U.S. Passport (unexpired)
Original Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Original Naturalization or Citizenship Certificate

Proof of identity (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

Original U.S. passport, unexpired and signed
Original foreign passport, unexpired and signed

Proof of the identity of the parent signing the application (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

U.S. or foreign passport, unexpired and signed
Driver’s License
Country or national ID Card with a current photo

I have lost or misplaced my Social Security Card; do I need to replace the card?

Applicants of any age applying for a replacement Social Security card must MAIL (or use the drop box) their applications along with the ORIGINAL required documents to the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem via courier service and we will return their documents via courier service.

If you lost your card, you may not need a replacement. In most cases, simply knowing your Social Security number is enough. But if you do need a replacement:

Download, complete, and sign the Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5-FS. All questions must be answered and legible. Please type or print the answers.
Provide the following original documents, plus one copy of the documents.

Proof of identity (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

Original U.S. passport, unexpired and signed
Original foreign passport, unexpired and signed

Proof of the identity of the parent signing the application, if applicable – a parent can sign the form for a child up to age 18; a child can sign the form above age 12. (Provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

U.S. or foreign passport, unexpired and signed
Driver’s License
Country or national ID card with a current photo

I have a Social Security number, but do not remember the number. How can I find out my Social Security number?

You must apply for a replacement card following instructions in answer #3 above.

I have married or divorced and need to change my name on my Social Security records, how do I do that?

To change your name on your Social Security records the following steps are required:

1.) Download, complete, and sign the Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5-FS. All questions must be answered and legible. Please type or print the answers.

2.) Provide the following original documents, plus one copy of the documents.

Proof of the name change (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

If the marriage, divorce certificate, or legal name change document are less than 2 years old and contains biographical data such as date of birth or age of applicant, submit the original document.

If the marriage, divorce certificate, or legal name change document is over 2 years old or does not contain biographical data such as a date of birth or age, you must also submit proof of identity in your OLD name. If you have no identification in your old name, you must write a statement as to why you do not have such proof of identity and submit proof of identity in your NEW name.

Proof of identity in old name, as required (provide ONE of the following original plus a copy)

Original current or expired U.S. passport, must be signed
Original Driver’s License
Original current or expired U.S. military identification
Proof of identity in new name, as required

U.S. or foreign passport, unexpired and signed
Driver’s License
Country or national ID card with a current phot

How Do I Request Non-Receipt of Payment?

If you are receiving payment by paper check, you must wait until after the 25^th of the month to report that the check has not been received. We cannot take action until this date.

If you are receiving payment by direct deposit, please contact the bank first If you have not received payment by the 10^th of the month (then contact us if no resolution). When reporting non-receipt, please tell us the date the check was supposed to be paid or deposited. For faster service, submit your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you did not receive a payment in the month of February of any year, your payments may have been suspended if we did not receive the Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire in a timely manner. Checks are stopped in February of every year if we do not receive the questionnaire. Depending on the country you reside, the Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire may be sent every year or every other year. T he questionnaires are mailed out in the spring, and a follow-up mailing is sent in the fall.

How Do I Report a Change of Address?

Submit your change of address via the Online Inquiry Form.

If you reside outside the United States for over three months, you must change your address to the foreign address.

How Do I Report a Death of a Beneficiary Receiving Payments?

For faster service, report a death of a beneficiary by completing the Online Inquiry Form.

You will be asked to provide a death certificate. Ask how to send the death certificate when you send your inquiry to FBU.

Report the death as soon as possible (even if you do not have the death certificate); there may be benefits due to survivors, and this will prevent possible over-payments which must be repaid. Any payments sent the month after the beneficiaries dies must be returned to Social Security.

How Do I Apply to Become a Representative Payee for Incapable Beneficiaries? (And Other Issues About Representative Payees)

Information for representative payees and their obligations can be found at this website.

If you are unable to find an answer, submit your inquiry via the On Line Inquiry Form.

How Do I Request a Benefits Verification or Proof of Income Letter?

Follow this link to request the letter via my Social Security Account.

How Do I Enroll In or Terminate Medicare Benefits If I Already Receive Payments?

To terminate Medicare Part B, please mail a completed, signed and dated CMS-1763 requesting to terminate Medicare Part B:

U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
Attn: Federal Benefits Unit
P O Box 290
Jerusalem 9100201

Medicare Part B will be terminated effective the month after we receive your signed statement.

If you previously terminated Medicare Part B and now wish to enroll, please visit this website for the enrollment months available to you; generally you can enroll in Medicare Part B January to March of each year and Medicare Part B would begin July 1 of that year. You can request a form 40B by submitting your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form.

If you have not applied for Social Security payments but want to apply for Medicare only, we encourage you to file online for Social Security retirement, spouse, Medicare Only, or disability on the internet at this website or by clicking here.

I Need Health Insurance or Know Somebody Who Does.

Visit the Health Insurance Marketplace or call 1-800-318-2596 to get more information. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call TTY 1-855-889-4325. Please note, Medicare is not part of the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, you do not have to replace your Medicare coverage with Marketplace coverage.

How Can I Find More Information About the Windfall Elimination Provision Which May Reduce My Social Security Benefits Because of Other Pensions I Receive?

The Windfall Elimination Provision is a Social Security law that applies to beneficiaries who are receiving full benefits from different pension agencies (i.e., a pension from a foreign country) and a pension from the Social Security Administration. As a result, your Social Security Pension will be reduced by a certain percentage; depending on the amount of “years of substantial earnings,” you have contributed towards Social Security.

For more information concerning the Windfall Elimination Provisions, please see this website.

How Do I Obtain a Detailed Earnings Record (For Other Pensions or to Prove Citizenship)?

The form, instructions, mailing address, and updated fees are located at this website. The Social Security Administration is the only component authority that is authorized to complete this information. Allow up to four to receive a response.

How Do I Request a Social Security Statement or Other Proof of Past U.S. Earnings?

Obtain your Social Security Statement online at this website if you have a U.S., APO, DPO, or FPO address. The my Social Security system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for establishing an account. The system does not support foreign addresses.

If you are unable to establish an online account, you can receive the Social Security Statement by completing SSA-7004. The completed form must be mailed to:

Social Security Administration
Wilkes Barre Data Operations Center
P.O. Box 7004
Wilkes Barre, PA 18767-7004

Please allow up to four months to receive a response to the written request for a Social Security Statement.

How Do I Estimate My Future Social Security Amount?

Visit this site to estimate your future benefits (planning calculators).

If you have a my Social Security account, you can use the online estimator tool.

The online hours of operation are:

Monday to Saturday: 12:00 noon-midnight (5:00am-5:00pm EST)
Sunday: 3:00pm-midnight (8:00am-5:00pm EST)

How Do I Obtain More Information About the Social Security Administration and Services?

Visit the Social Security Administration website.

If you are unable to find an answer, submit your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form

How Do I Obtain Information About Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs?

The Federal Benefits Unit handles Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) survivor claims, educational benefits, compensation and pension examinations, etc.

The Department of Veterans Affairs website offers the Federal Benefits Manual for Veterans and Dependents (2021), details of benefits available, and downloadable benefits forms.

Contact Veterans Affairs

If you are unable to find an answer, submit your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form.

How Do I Obtain Information About Services for the Office of Personnel Management?

The Office of Personnel Management website offers information for federal employee benefits such as retirement programs, thrift plans, and health insurance.

Contact OPM

If you are unable to find an answer, submit your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form.

How Do I Obtain Information About Services for the Railroad Retirement Board?

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for the nation’s railroad workers and their families. The RRB also administers certain Social Security benefit payments and railroad workers’ Medicare coverage.

Contact RRB

If you are unable to find an answer, submit your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form.

How Do I Obtain Information About Services for the Department of Labor?

The Department of Labor website offers information on benefits programs such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and workers’ compensation programs (Black Lung Benefits Act, Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, etc.).

If you are unable to find an answer, submit your inquiry via the Online Inquiry Form.

How Do I Obtain SSI (Social Security Supplemental Security Income) while I am living in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza?

SSI is not payable outside of the United States.