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  Updated: 05/XI/02

Federal Benefits

The Federal Benefits Office provides assistance and distributes Social Security and other federal checks to individuals living in Colombia who are eligible for these benefits. The office is open to the public from 9:00AM to 10:00AM, Monday through Thursday, at the American Citizen Services window. In addition, a Federal Benefits representative is available to answer questions by phone at (571) 315-0811, extension 2422, from 10:00AM to 12M, Monday through Thursday (please note that the Embassy is closed on Colombian and U.S. holidays).


Receiving Social Security Checks

To begin the process of receiving your pension from the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must be at least 60 years of age (for widows or widowers), 62 (for early retirement) or 65 (for full retirement). If this is the case and you live in Bogota, please come to the Embassy during the hours indicated above. Please bring your Social Security number and at least one form of photo identification. After you submit your application to receive Social Security, you should be prepared to wait approximately three months for payment to start (you may apply three months before you reach the qualifying age, but payments will not begin until you reach the appropriate age).

If you live outside of Bogota, please send a letter to the Federal Benefits Office of ACS stating that you would like to begin the process of receiving your checks. In the letter, please include your Social Security number, a photocopy of the cedula or passport, and your complete mailing address in Colombia. You will then receive a form by mail that will instruct you on how to proceed.

Social Security, Civil Service and Veteran's pension checks are normally received in the Embassy within the first ten days of each month.


Death of the Beneficiary

Only the beneficiary may endorse the checks. The death of a beneficiary must be reported immediately to the Embassy with the date of death and the Social Security number. Please also submit a copy of the death certificate. The Social Security Administration pays benefits to the children of beneficiaries until they reach the age of 18.


Certification

If you need a certification of your pension check, please come to the Embassy between 9:00AM and 10:00AM, Monday through Thursday. You will be asked to complete and sign a form; your certification letter will be ready the same day. If you live outside of Bogota, you may send your request by mail. Please list the name of the bank or financial institution and the address where you would like the letter to be sent.


Communicating Directly with the SSA

If you would like to send correspondence directly to the SSA, please use the following address:

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
POB  17769
BALTIMORE  MD   21235

Please remember to list the following information in all correspondence:

  • your Social Security number
  • your name as it appears on your Social Security card
  • your complete mailing address in Colombia
Our experience has shown that replies to letters to the SSA can involve substantial delays, sometimes six months or more.


Change of Address

You must inform the Embassy of any change of address involving the delivery of your Social Security checks. You should include the complete new address, telephone number, and your Social Security number or claim number. We will send the request for change of address to the appropriate office. Please note that processing a change of address takes approximately three to four months.