If you’re a United States citizen, and you’re in Mexico three months prior to turning 62 and have decided you want to sign up for your Social Security Benefits from Lakeside, here’s how you can do that.
Your first option is to go to the American Consulate in Guadalajara and sign up in person.
The American Consulate is located at Progreso 175 (http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/guadalajara/Gsmap.jpg), Col. Americana in Guadalajara.
The office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Telephone numbers are 3825-2998 and 3825-2700.
Emergency phone 3826-5553
Phone Numbers: If you find the phone numbers listed a ittle confusing (as I do), this is what you need to do:
When dialing the local number in Guadalajara from the U.S. or Canada (or from Vonage): Dial 011 52 33 before the number shown. For instance, to call the Consulate (from the U.S. or Canada: Dial 011 52 33–3825-2998
From within México: Dial 01 33 before the number shown. For instance, to call the Consulate (from Lakeside): Dial 01-33–3825-2998
Locally: Dial the number shown. For instance to call the Consulate (when in Guadalajara): Dial 3825-2998
If you do go to the Consulate, call and make sure they’re going to be open. Remember, Mexico has a few holidays we’re not quite used to!
You need to take the following paperwork with you to sign up for your Social Security benefits:
- Birth certificate (original)
- Passport.
You do not need your FM3, according to the lady I spoke with on the phone, but, obviously, you will also need your social security number.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
http://www.ssa.gov/
If you have questions about your benefits, you can probably find all the answers you need on their web site (listed above). However, if you are physically in Mexico, you cannot sign up online. The SSA server does not recognize your Mexican ISP address as valid, and will not let you continue completing the online application.
Personally, since I have Vonage, I decided to call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at their toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, and sign up over the phone. This number operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, they make a point of saying that their “lines are busiest early in the week and early in the month,” so it’s to your benefit if you can wait until about the second or third week of the month to call. They also let you know what the average wait time is before you will be able to speak to a representative.
You do need patience, however, because it took me an hour and a half to get everything done by phone. If you have a speakerphone, that’s great…just don’t forget and walk too far away from the speaker! We all have a tendency to forget what we’re doing if we have to wait too long. One good thing about the SSA phone line though, there’s very rarely dead air on their phone…they’re always advising you of something, or asking you questions!
An automated voice will also let you know what you will need when the real person comes on line. You will definitely need your social security number, so if you don’t have it memorized, you should write it down and have it ready.
I was glad I called, because there turned out to be some questions about my earnings record. Certain time periods during my earning years had been flagged for inquiry. By calling, we were able to get everything straightened out immediately.
When you get through to a real person, make sure they understand you want to sign up over the phone. The SSA really wants you to sign up online because of the time factor involved…it takes about 45 minutes for one of their representatives to take all the information. Tell them you MUST sign up over the phone…you cannot do it any other way!
After waiting for approximately a half hour, I eventually was put in touch with a gentleman by the name of Mario, who, I found out later, was in Seattle. He was very nice and very patient. One very nice touch is the first information he wanted from me was my name and phone number so in case we got cut off, he could call right back. When’s the last time you had a customer service agent ask you that?? I was definitely impressed.
When I didn’t understand a question, he took great pains to make sure I understood everything completely before proceeding to the next question. It took about an hour to complete the questions, because of the earnings years in question. I used my Mail Boxes, Etc., account in Laredo for the address on every question that referenced a mailing address, etc. Of course, that is also the address on my bank account in the States, which made the whole thing a little easier, I imagine.
Also, he mailed some information to my MBE mail box, with a stamped, self-addressed envelope enclosed, because they needed a copy of my original birth certificate. He also called about two weeks later to make sure I had received the forms. That’s service!
If you want your check direct deposited, you need to know the following information to give to the representative on the phone:
- Your bank routing number
- Your account number
So…get out your checks, and have that information ready when he asks…see below:
TIMING:
You should file for your Social Security Benefits three months prior to the birthdate you want to start receiving your benefits, whether it’s at age 62, age 65 or even older.
For instance, I turn 62 on February 8, 2008, and I have decided I want my benefits to start then. Therefore, I could have applied for my benefits anytime after November 8, 2007. I didn’t apply until December. Since social security benefits are made one month in arrears, this means that my checks will not start in March, but I will start receiving them in April, at which time I will get both my March and April checks. Therefore, I haven’t ‘lost’ anything; the benefits will just start one month later.
By the way, did you know:
| If you were born on the… |
Your payment will be deposited on the… |
| 1st through 10th of the month |
Second Wednesday of the month |
| 11th through 20th of the month |
Third Wednesday of the month |
| 21st through end of the month |
Fourth Wednesday of the month |
I didn’t know that until I was doing the research for this article! For a schedule of benefit payment dates, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/calendar.htm.
I hope this has been of some help to everyone. I always relate articles like these to my own personal experience, and everyone’s tale might not be the same as mine. I expect your experience to go as smoothly as mine did; but, obviously, you never know. However, the better prepared you are when you go to the consulate or call the Social Security Administration, the quicker everything will be, and you’ll be signed up in no time.
Good luck!