Social Security payments to some Americans living abroad have been suspended, causing controversy.

According to data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), approximately 68.5 million Americans currently receive Social Security benefits, with over 700,000 residing abroad.

The main cause of this payment suspension has been identified as failure to submit the “Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire” (FEQ). Benefit recipients living abroad must complete this document every 1-2 years as part of an identity verification process.

The FEQ confirms basic information such as the recipient’s name, address, and Social Security number. The SSA sends this form to overseas recipients in mid-year. The key issue in this situation is that failure to submit the FEQ by the deadline can result in benefit suspension.

Cases of non-receipt and non-submission of FEQs have increased, particularly due to international mail service delays following COVID-19 and unreported address changes.

Retired Korean Americans living in Korea have also fallen victim to this situation. Mr. Lee (72), a resident of Seoul, lamented, “I had been receiving my pension without any issues for 10 years since returning to Korea, but suddenly the payments stopped. I had difficulty understanding the English documents and couldn’t submit them by the deadline.”

Mr. Kim (68), an American recipient living in Busan, also complained, “My pension suddenly stopped being deposited, causing significant financial hardship. The payments were suspended because I allegedly didn’t submit the FEQ form, even though I never received it.”

【Response Measures】

The SSA urges Americans living abroad to strictly adhere to annual FEQ submission deadlines. They also recommend immediately notifying the SSA of any address changes.

Recipients whose payments have already been suspended can resolve the situation by contacting the Federal Benefits Unit at their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or by calling the SSA’s international phone number (+1-410-965-0160).

Experts advise, “Those living abroad, especially in regions with unreliable postal services, should regularly check the SSA website and be aware of when FEQs are sent out.”

This situation is expected to prompt discussions about the U.S. government’s policies for managing overseas residents. Some voices are calling for improvements to the current mail-based verification process, such as introducing digital systems.

A Korean American association representative stated, “Elderly retired Korean Americans in particular face difficulties submitting their FEQs due to language barriers and limited digital device skills.”