Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please see our collection of Frequently Asked Questions below:

Please contact our office in Rome through the FBU Rome email form

Please contact our office in Naples through the FBU Naples email form

You can apply online by going to the following link: www.socialsecurity.gov

IMPORTANT NOTE: This service is available during the following hours:
Monday to Sunday (5 AM EST)
Sunday (8 AM EST)

Or

You can contact us by using our online form.

The Treasury Department U.S. announced the mandatory direct deposit of pensions into bank accounts effective immediately.

1)   If you want to enroll in an Italian bank, you must send us the IBAN and BIC code. For faster service, send this information using our online form

2)   If you have a bank in the U.S., you must provide the U.S. bank Routing Transit Number, your bank account number, and specify the type of the account (Checking or Savings).  For faster service, send this information using our online email form.

You must wait until after the 25th of the month to report non-receipt of paper checks.

For faster service, send this information by using our online form

For faster service, send this information by using our online email form

If you reside outside the U.S. for over 3 months, you must change your address to the foreign address.

If you are moving from the U.S. to an overseas location such as Italy, you must complete and sign form SSA-21, which you can download at http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-21.pdf .

For faster service, send this information by using our online form

Report the death as soon as possible, there may be benefits due to survivors, and this will prevent possible overpayments which must be repaid.  Any payments sent the month after the beneficiary’s death must be returned to Social Security. If you do not have a death certificate yet, do not wait to report a death of a beneficiary receiving payments.

Important

All documents submitted must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.

Anyone age 12 or older requesting an original Social Security number must appear in person for an interview.

A person applying for a card on behalf of a child must provide proof of identity and custody.

Step 1: Gather at least one of each of the following documents proving your:

  • Identity (U.S. driver’s license, U.S. Passport, Military ID, Foreign Passport, Italian ID Card)
  • Age; (U.S. birth certificate, Foreign birth certificate, Consular report of birth abroad FS-240)
  • U.S. citizenship (U.S. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Naturalization or Citizenship Certificate)
  • or Immigration status:  (I-551 Permanent Resident Card, I-766 Employment Authorization Card)
  • If you are a U.S. citizen age 12 or older, we will ask you to provide Historical Residency Certificate or school records to prove your prolonged absence from the U.S.

Step 2: Complete an Application for a Card

Step 3: Take your completed application and documents to our office. If you do not live close to our office, please contact us by our online form.

First, realize you may not need a replacement Social Security card. You will rarely need to show it. Knowing your Social Security number is what is important. To get a replacement Social Security card:

Step 1: Gather one of each of the following documents proving your:

  • Identity (U.S. driver’s license, U.S. Passport, Military ID, Foreign Passport, Italian ID Card)

and

  • U.S. citizenship (U.S. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Naturalization or Citizenship Certificate) if not already proven on our record.

Or

  •  Immigration status  (I-551 Permanent Resident Card, I-766 Employment Authorization Card)

Step 2: Complete an Application for a Social Security Card

Step 3: Take your completed application and documents to our office. If you do not live close to our office, please contact us by our online form.

All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.

Step 1: Gather one of each of the following documents proving your:

  • Identity (U.S. driver’s license, U.S. Passport, Military ID, Foreign Passport, Italian ID Card)
  • U.S. citizenship (U.S. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Naturalization or Citizenship Certificate) if not already proven on our record.

Or

  •  Immigration status (I-551 Permanent Resident Card, I-766 Employment Authorization Card)

Step 2: Complete an Application for a Social Security cardhttp://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5fs.pdf

Step 3: Take your completed application and documents to our office. If you do not live close to our office, please contact us by our online email form.

All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.

We provide two types of income proof:

1. The benefit verification letter shows your monthly benefit amount. You can get your benefit verification letter online (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount/) if you have a U.S. mailing address or a FPO, APO, or DPO mailing address. The system does not support foreign addresses.

2. The SSA-1099/1042 shows your annual income for income tax purposes. The forms are mailed by SSA on January 31 each year. You can request an SSA-1099 online (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1099/main.html?a_id=2240&kw=2240&session=mh2CYtfl)

You can contact us by using our online email form.

You can download the form CMS-40B on our website and mail to us.

Generally you can enroll in Medicare Part B from January to March of each year and will be effective July 1st of that year.

For additional information you can visit www.medicare.gov

Or

You can contact us by using our onlineemail  form.

If you wish to terminate your enrollment, send FBU a signed statement and include your name, address, telephone number, Social Security number, and statement regarding your wish to terminate Medicare Part B coverage and premiums, and the effective date.  Termination is a serious decision if you wish to re-enroll later, you may have to pay a surcharge.

Medicare Part B will be terminated effective with the month after the month we receive your signed statement.

For additional information you can visit www.medicare.gov

Or

You can contact us using our online email form; however, we must have a signed and dated statement before Medicare Part B can be terminated.

Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) affects how we calculate your Social Security retirement or disability benefits if you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security such as a foreign country pension.

For more information concerning the Windfall Elimination Provisions please see: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/wep.htm

The United States has bilateral Social Security agreements with 24 countries most commonly known as Totalization Agreements. The agreements improve benefit protection for workers who have divided their careers between the United States and another country. They also eliminate dual Social Security coverage and taxes for multinational companies and expatriate workers. Look here for an overview of the agreement between USA and Italy
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/it

Obtain your Social Security Statement online at http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ if you have a U.S., APO, DPO, or FPO address.  The system does not support foreign addresses.

If you are unable to establish an online account, you can receive the Social Security Statement by completing Form SSA-7004 at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/materials/pdfs/SSA-7004.pdf.  The completed form must be mailed to:

Social Security Administration
Wilkes Barre Data Operations Center
P.O. Box 7004
Wilkes Barre, PA 18767-7004

Please allow up to four months to receive a response to the written request for a Social Security Statement.

Instructions and updated fees are located athttp://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7050.html .

Complete for Form SSA-7050-F4 http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7050.pdf  attach payment and mail to Social Security as per instructions.

Allow up to four to six months to receive a response.