Federal Benefits Unit
Applying for Retirement Benefits
You may apply at this office for different types of Social Security Benefits: retirement, spouse’s, survivors and disability benefits, or any combination of those benefits. Note, however, that in order to qualify for a Social Security disability or retirement benefits, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes and earned enough Social Security credits.
If you have never worked or have worked very little, you may not qualify for benefits.
Please remember that the U.S. Embassy/Consulate is a non claims-taking post. This means that we have no staff fully trained inSSA
policies and procedures and do not have direct SSAconnectivity. Therefore, we will only accept your application and forward it to the proper agency for processing. Please allow SSA at least 7 months to process your application.
• If you wish to apply for social security benefits before you come to the Embassy please
contact us so we can request SSA to determine your eligibility for such benefits and a detailed list of the documents to be presented with your application. Please make sure to include in your email: NAME (as it appears on your ID or SS card) DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER,CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS and COMPLETE ADDRESS.
For detailed information on the different types of benefits please click on the links below:
Retirement Benefits
Spouses Benefits
Divorced Spouses Benefits
Parents’ Benefits
Children Benefits
Survivor’s Benefits
Disability Benefits
Medicare