Social Security and Federal Benefits
Federal Benefits
The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Santo Domingo, with over 10,000 beneficiaries, is one of the largest post in Latin America. The office accepts claims for many different types of benefits related to several U.S. Government agencies. At our office, you may file your application for retirement, spousal, widow/er, or children's benefits, among others. Beneficiaries receive their money from the Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans' Administration (VA), or Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
How to Contact Us:
Most of our business can be conducted over the phone, so please call us and if needed, you will be given an appointment.
The Federal Benefit Unit works only by appointments and it is possible that you can be assisted over the phone, so please call (809) 731-4371 between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and Friday from 7:30am to 11:00am. It is very important to remember that for your own safety we can only discuss your case with you and you must have your Social Security number in hand when you call.
The Federal Benefits Unit uses a "Q-Matic" system such as you might see at the deli counter of the grocery store. When you arrive at the main lobby of the Consular Section building, please take a number and then have a seat in our waiting room. We only ask that you be patient, as some clients require more time than others and we therefore may not get to you as quickly as you would like. Rest assured that we will see you as soon as possible.
All post-entitlement issues, those not related to a new claim, call be solved over the phone. Please remember that we can only discuss the case with the beneficiary or a representative appointed by SSA no one else.
In case you cannot reach us by phone, you can get in contact with our Unit at any time, at the following email address:
Services Provided:
The Federal Benefits Unit can assist you with the following issues:
- Applications for retirement, disability or survivor benefits
- Applications for Social Security numbers.
- Applications for new, replacement duplicate and/or corrected Social Security cards.
- Applications for enrollment or cancellation of Medicare (please note that Medicare does not cover outside the USA).
- Applications for establishment of a representative payee (i.e., when the beneficiary is not able to receive or manage his/her own benefits)
- Changes/corrections to your record (name, address, death of a beneficiary, etc.)
- Information about (and enrollment in) the International Direct Deposit (IDD) program.
- Missing or delayed payments.
Important Note for Department of Defense Retirees: Department of Defense retirees must deal directly with their Defense Finance and Accounting Service Center office in the United States
INTERNATIONAL DIRECT DEPOSIT (IDD) PROGRAM:
Monthly payments directly deposited into the beneficiaries' designated Dominican bank accounts. This system increases the speed with which you can receive your benefits (almost always by the fifth day of the month) and is significantly more secure than the mailing of paper checks, which are subject to theft and loss.
RECORD-KEEPING:
It is suggested that recipients keep a record of payments received: date, amount, agency (SSA, VA, etc.) This information assists in resolving problems with the non-receipt of payments and overpayments due to duplicate payments that may result in interruption of your benefits.
EVENTS THAT BENEFICIARIES MUST REPORT TO SSA:
Change of citizenship; Change of address; Work outside the U.S.; Disabled person returns to work or disability improves; Marriage; Divorce or annulment; Adoption of a child; Child leaves the care of representative payee; Child nearing age 18 is a full-time student or is disabled; Death; Inability to manage funds; Deportation or removal from the U.S.; Changes in parental circumstances; Eligibility for a pension from work not covered by Social Security.
It is very important that you tell us if your address changes so your payments will not be delayed. Even if your payments are being sent to a bank, you must report any of the changes described above.
Individuals who do not keep their records current may run the risk of having their benefits suspended.
Further Information:
The following links to specific U.S. Government benefits-granting agencies are provided for your assistance. Please note that these sites are designed primarily for use within the United States; however, the SSA and VA sites have special pages devoted to international issues.