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Dear Dennis,

Your question about receiving Social Security in the Philippines is an important one.Allow me to assist.Yes, you can receive your US Social Security while in the Philippines. You can even have it direct deposited into your bank account here in the Philippines . In fact, it's the preferred method if not the required method.

We have a new forum, the Living in the Philippines Community (LinPC) which you may have heard mentioned on LinP3 our larger group you can join from http://www.livinginthephilippines.com. Like our List, membership is free. I hope you will join us there to get answers to all your questions.

It can be found at:

http://livinginthephilippines.com/forum/index.php

There we have a different format, one that doesn't require posts to be "pre-approved". You can post your questions there and have them appear immediately. We have a section set up just for SS questions. You can find it here: http://livinginthephilippines.com/forum/index.php?board=62.0

The SS webpage is: http://www.ssa.gov/

You will need to contact the US Embassy to file for your SS benefits. The same rules that apply to you in the US will apply in the RP.heir contact info is below:

Philippines Social Security Division U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office American Embassy 1131 Roxas Boulevard Ermita 0930 Manila Philippines

Phone: 632-301-2000, extensions 6302, 2621, and 5085 Fax: 632-522-1514

From their section on how to file:

"When you apply, please be ready to supply the information we need to approve your application for these benefits:

* Retirement or Medicare

* Spouse’s or Divorced Spouse’s

* Child’s

We may ask you to provide certain documents to show that you are eligible and help us decide how much your benefits should be. If you do not have a birth certificate, you may request one from the state where you were born.

For details on where to write in your state, check Where to Write for Vital Records.

Also, bring along your bank information so you can sign up for Direct Deposit."

The following link will answer almost all your questions:

http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/

As far as how soon before your retirement can you apply, this from the SS website:

"Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due. For example, if your 62nd birthday is July 15, your first month of entitlement is August, and you would receive your first check in September."

I hope this answers most of your questions. The best thing to do would be to join the new forum and ask further questions there. We have many members who are much more well-versed than me. I'm just a pup (57) and
don't have all the answers, yet. :-) 

I look forward to seeing you on the new LinPC forum! 

Sincerely Yours,

Jack Bishop

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