Feb 11, 2025
Around 68.5 million people receive Social Security benefits, which act as a reliable source of steady income for disabled and retired workers.
But what if those checks suddenly stopped appearing?
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Some U.S. Embassy websites have posted notices warning beneficiaries their payments may have been suspended. The alert targeted those whose official address on record is outside the U.S.
Here’s exactly who is affected, and if that’s you, what you can do about it.
Who has their payments suspended?
Over 700,000 of those who receive Social Security benefits live abroad. A number of them may have been surprised they didn’t receive a payment in February, prompting embassy websites to put up notices explaining why.
It’s to do with confirming one’s eligibility to receive payments. Every one or two years, depending on where they live and the exact form that needs to be filled out, those who live abroad and collect Social Security need to submit a Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire (FEQ), which is a document used to update or confirm certain pieces of information. This includes your name (or the representative payee’s name), address, Social Security number and other details. Further detail can be found on the Social Security Administration website.
Forms are sent out in the middle of the year and must be returned by the due date to ensure beneficiaries continue receiving payments on time. If not, their benefits might be suspended.
Remember, this applies to those whose address on record is outside the U.S.
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What you can do
There are several steps you can take if your Social Security payments have been suspended. First, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and mention your situation, and someone there should be able to help.
You may be told to contact the local Federal Benefits Unit (which provides services to the Social Security Administration) to give them the needed information. Once everything is processed, you could start receiving a paycheck again in a matter of days.
While you wait, it might be a good time to take a careful look at your finances. Now would be the time to tap in your emergency fund or rainy day savings if you need to pay for any immediate necessities.
You may also want to consider temporarily cutting back on certain expenses and stretch your dollars where you can. It may not be fun, you can try cutting back on entertainment costs or beauty services until your Social Security payments get back on track
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Sarah Li-Cain, AFC is a finance and small business writer with over a decade of experience.
