Citations:

Soc. Se. Act-Section 205(a)

Regulations No. 4-Sec. 404.401, 404.701-404.705

TN 7 (03-08)

A. Background information — FEP

1. Origin of the FEP

The FEP is one of the integrity measures used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify the existence and identity of beneficiaries living outside the United States. It does not apply to countries where Treasury restrictions prohibit delivery of SSA payments (see RS 02650.001C). Contacts are made annually or biennially to help us determine if any events have occurred that affect the beneficiaries’ eligibility to benefits or their ability to handle their own funds.

2. Purpose of the FEP

The purpose of the FEP is to:

• Verify that the beneficiary is alive;

• Obtain information and documentation regarding events that may result in suspension, reduction and/or termination of benefits; e.g., change in citizenship, marriage, divorce, etc.

• Obtain an annual accounting report from the representative payee;

• Verify that there has been no change in custody for the incapable beneficiary; and

• Gather data for use in administering the Social Security Program outside the U.S.

B. FEP forms

1. Two separate forms are used in the FEP:

• SSA-7162-OCR-SM (Report To United States Social Security Administration) to be completed by the beneficiary. See Instructions for form SSA-7162-INST).

• SSA-7161-OCR-SM (Report to United States Social Security Administration by Person Receiving Benefits For A Child Or Adult Unable to Handle Funds). See Instructions for form SSA-7161-INST).

2. Instructions

The instructions for completing the questionnaire are available in 10 foreign languages. The foreign instructions are sent with the English language questionnaire to the countries and consular codes listed below:

a. French (FR)

Belgium (748, 758)

Canada (953)

France (680, 681, 912)

Haiti (925)

Luxembourg (986)

Monaco (680)

Morocco (844, 854, 864)

Switzerland (846)

b. German (GE)

Austria (972)

Germany (702, 712, 722, 732, 742, 752, 762, 772)

Liechtenstein (886)

c. Greek (GR)

Cyprus (904)

Greece (701)

d. Italian (IT)

Italy (700)

Sardinia (700)

San Marino (700)

e. Japanese (JA)

Japan (713, 723, 733, 743, 753)

Okinawa and Ryukyu Islands (948)

f. Norwegian (NE)

Norway (703)

g. Polish (PO)

Poland (908)

h. Portuguese (PE)

Brazil (653, 706, 726, 736, 746, 756)

Cape Verde Islands (710)

Portugal (Azores) (705, 715)

i. Spanish (SP)

Argentina (858)

Bolivia (913)

Chile (768)

Columbia (757, 777, 787)

Costa Rica (983)

Dominican Republic (934)

Ecuador (729, 739)

El Salvador (958)

Guatemala (915)

Honduras (822)

Mexico (704, 714, 734, 744, 754, 773, 774, 783, 793, 899)

Nicaragua (957)

Panama (806)

Paraguay (987)

Peru (997)

Spain (745, 755, 765, 775)

Uruguay (979)

Venezuela (707)

j. Swedish (SW)

Sweden (782)