Payments to certain Americans residing overseas have been suspended by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
This is as a result of their failure to submit the Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire, a necessary paperwork. Every year, the form is required to verify eligibility for payments made outside of the United States.
Americans who receive Social Security payments and reside abroad are affected by the suspensions.
As of December 2023, more than 700,000 beneficiaries reside abroad, according to the SSA. There are about 2,000 people in Costa Rica and 59,000 in Mexico. Notices regarding the suspended payments have been distributed by U.S. embassies in a number of nations.
“Your benefits have been suspended if you did not receive your February benefit payment,” the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica said. Those in Haiti, Mexico, and other countries received similar messages.
Not every American living overseas is immediately impacted. The form does not need to be submitted right now if the person is under 90, receives their own benefits, and has a Social Security number that ends in 50 to 99.
Between June and July 2025, they will receive a questionnaire to fill out. International suspensions of Social Security Responding is also not mandatory for those who have a U.S. address on file.
Your benefits were probably halted if your February Social Security check did not come. Beginning on January 31, the last payments were made on February 28. You must get in touch with your nation's Federal Benefits Unit in order to get your benefits restored.