Important Information
Notice: SSA Fairness Act
If your Social Security benefits are currently reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension offset, and you are looking for information about the Social Security Fairness Act, the Social Security Administration is working on its implementation. We will provide more information on our website (Social Security Fairness Act webpage) as soon as it is available. If you are receiving a public pension and are now interested in filing for benefits, please contact our office (fbu.madrid@ssa.gov).
Foreign Enforcement Questionnaires
If you have not received your monthly Social Security payments since February, your benefits have probably been suspended. This is because we did not receive the annual questionnaire form that was mailed to you.
To reinstate your benefit payments, you will need to print and complete one of the forms listed below:
- If you are a Social Security beneficiary, please complete Form SSA-7162
- If you are the Representative Payee for a beneficiary, please complete Form SSA-7161
When completing the form, please ensure that you include your complete name, address, contact number, and SSN. Be sure to sign the form. Once signed, mail the completed form to:
Social Security Administration – FBU
U.S. Embassy
Federal Benefits Unit
Serrano 75
28006 Madrid
Once we receive the completed form, we will take action to reinstate benefits.
Any past due payments will be directly deposited into your bank account, usually within ten (10) to fifteen (15) business days.
Please do not email the questionnaire as it contains your Social Security number and we cannot guarantee email privacy.
Thank you.
Social Security Online Services
You can now access many services online if you live outside of the United States. Learn more about what you can do with your personal my Social Security account on the Social Security’s Office of Earnings & International Operations (OEIO) home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Social Security Numbers (Related: Proof of Residence Outside The United States)
- Reporting a Death
- Reporting a Change of Address
- Starting or Changing a Direct Deposit
- Filing for Benefits or Medicare
- Social Security Statements
- Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire (Forms SSA-7161 or SSA-7162) and Foreign Enforcement Suspensions
Social Security
The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) is a Social Security foreign office that provides services for six (6) federal benefits programs outside the U.S. The largest program is Social Security. The FBU helps over 14,000 beneficiaries throughout Spain and four (4) other countries.
The most efficient way to contact us is by email at fbu.madrid@ssa.gov. Include your telephone number, name, and date of birth, the last four (4) digits of your Social Security number, and the purpose of your inquiry. We typically will respond within five (5) business days. Please do not send multiple emails, as this may cause further delays.
The FBU is unable to answer inquiries not related to our office such as visas, taxes, U.S. passports, or notarials. Information on these services may be obtained via links available on the Embassy’s website.
In-person services are by appointment only and in general terms, restricted to services that ‘require’ a personal interview. To make an appointment, send an email to fbu.madrid@ssa.gov with your telephone number, name, date of birth, and the last four (4) digits of your Social Security number. Please provide the purpose of requesting the appointment.
Please also take note of our privacy policy.