Federal Benefits and Social Security

The Buenos Aires Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) offers assistance and advice regarding the United States Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs Department, Department of Labor, Office of Personnel Management, Railroad Board and other federal benefit programs to interested individuals.

You may apply at this office for retirement, spouse, survivor and disability benefits or update your record, if you are already receiving payments from SSA, VA, OPM or any other federal agency. You may report your change of address, death of a beneficiary, a lost or stolen check and request direct deposit of your benefits. Note, that in order to qualify for a Social Security disability or retirement benefit, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes and earned enough Social Security quarters of credit as you cannot buy credits to be insured.

Please contact us by phone or via email before coming to the FBU in Buenos Aires, since most issues can be resolved without you having to visit the Federal Benefits Unit. In order to fully utilize the time available from our specialized representatives, services will be provided by APPOINTMENT ONLY, therefore we recommend that you call first to obtain advice from the FBU personnel prior to your visit to the Buenos Aires Embassy. Our email address is fbu.argentina@ssa.gov and your message should be answered within 24 to 48 hours. As a reminder, the Buenos Aires FBU is closed the FIRST and LAST Wednesday of the month; window or telephone hours are not available on those two days.

To apply for a Social Security Number Card or any of our services, arrive timely for your appointment at the Consular Section/FBU Window # 17 at the designated date and time. Please call for more information as to the specific requirements for your particular case. SS5 form is available at the http://www.socialsecurity.gov/, you can download it and complete it prior to your appointment along with the documentation previously requested from you.

NOTE: Applicants age 12 or older must apply in person. Applicants age 12 and older will also need to submit a letter stating the reasons why they have never obtained a Social Security Number before, present school records, employment records, and travel documents (e.g. passports) to prove continuous residency outside of the United States. Parents applying on behalf of a child under 12 may sign the application on his/her behalf. Applications must always be signed by the applicant if he/she is capable of signing, regardless of his/her age. There is no cost for the issuance of a Social Security card.

Submission of Form 7161/7162

According to the law, the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Buenos Aires cannot receive the SSA 7161/7162 forms  (known as foreign enforcement questionnaire) to be mailed through the Embassy.
FBU Buenos Aires can and will only assist if your benefits have been suspended due to lack of returning this questionnaire to the address established for this purpose.
It is advisable that you do not submit this form to your servicing Embassy or Consulate unless your benefits are already suspended.
Suspensions go into effect from January to March of every year so it will not be possible to submit them at Posts before that time.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  PLEASE ONLY CALL THE FBU TELEPHONES NUMBERS IF YOUR INQUIRY IS  RELATED TO A FEDERAL BENEFIT / SOCIAL SECURITY INQUIRY ISSUE.
IF YOU NEED TO INQUIRE ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, SUCH AS VISAS, IMMIGRATION, PASSPORTS, NOTARIAL, ETC, YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE CORRESPONDING TELEPHONE NUMBER OR CALL THE SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR: 54 11 5777 4533.

For further information on our services: Only FEDERAL BENEFITS/SOCIAL SECURITY matters, please contact us via e-mail fbu.argentina@ssa.gov or, by calling the Federal Benefits Unit at 54-11-5777-4510, 54-11-5777-4371 or 54-11-5777-4763, from 1:30pm to 5:00pm every day except on the first and last Wednesday of the month.