Social Security

Service Around the World

Welcome to SSA’s Office of Earnings & International Operations (OEIO) home page. The purpose of this site is to assist Social Security customers who are outside the U.S. or planning to leave the U.S.

OEIO is responsible for administering the Social Security program outside the U.S. and for the implementation of the benefit provisions of international agreements. Since SSA has no offices outside the U.S., OEIO is assisted by the Department of State's embassies and consulates throughout the world.

Foreign Countries Served by Social Security Administration

If you live outside of the United States, there are a number of Social Security Field Offices and American embassies and consulates who have specially trained personnel to assist you in seeking Social Security services. You can access information to contact our Social Security and consular staff by locating your country in the link below: 

Country and Region Office Contact Information

Notice Regarding Forms SSA-7161 and SSA-7162

Because of postal service interruptions around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Social Security Administration has suspended mailing these forms. SSA will not suspend your benefits if you have not completed and returned the forms in 2020. SSA will resume mailing the forms at a later date when conditions have changed.

Contact Us by Mail

If you are not receiving benefits and would like to inquire about benefits eligibility, you may contact your servicing Field Office or Federal Benefits unit or the following contact address (please be sure to include your Social Security Number):

Social Security Administration
Office of Earnings & International Operations
P.O. Box 17775
Baltimore, Maryland  21235-7775

If you or a family member are already receiving Social Security benefits and you would like to report a change in status, such as, a death, marriage or divorce, you may use the following contact address (please be sure to include your Social Security Number):

Social Security Administration
Office of Earnings & International Operations
P.O. Box 17769
Baltimore, Maryland  21235-7769

Contact Us by Phone

You may also contact us by phone if you speak English.  You can call our office 410-965-0160.  You will need to pay for the call because we do not currently have a toll-free service for calls from outside the U.S.  If you call, please do so between 9:00am and 4:00pm Eastern U.S time. 

Online Services

You Can Apply Online For:

• Retirement Benefits
• Disability Benefits

Other Services:

• BEST (Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool)
• Payment Outside the United States Tool
• Estimate your future benefits (planning calculators)

Forms for Foreign Applicants and Beneficiaries

You can use the following links to access forms for Foreign Applicants and Beneficiaries.

• Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States (SSA-21)
• Disability Report Form (SSA-3368)
• Application For a Social Security Card (Form SS-5-FS)
• Application for Special Benefits for World War II Veterans (SSA-2000)
• Obtain a replacement Medicare Card
• Request a Proof of Income Letter
• Obtain a Form SSA-1099 / 1042S - Social Security Benefit Statement
• Forms:  Multilanguage Gateway
• Other SSA Forms

Note:  To read and print these forms, you will need the Adobe Reader software (version 5.0 or higher is recommended).  If you do not have this free software, please visit the Adobe web site.

Other Information

Since Internet Email is not a secure medium for transmitting private information, we do not use it to discuss confidential matters such as information about claims or Social Security numbers.

If you are planning to leave the U.S., you should read our publication Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States, Publication No. 05-10137 (English, French, German, Greek, Italian,& Spanish PDF).

Look here for more information on your responsibilities if you are a beneficiary leaving the US.

SSA's Office of Data Exchange, Policy Publications,  and International Negotiations (ODEPPIN) offers information on International Social Security ("Totalization") Agreements and other international aspects of the Social Security program.