Important Reminder: Complete Your SSA-7162 to Keep Your Social Security Benefits

I’ve started receiving questions about the SSA-7162, often called the "I'm Not Dead" form. If you're an American living in Thailand and receiving Social Security benefits, this is an important reminder.

The SSA-7162 is required for beneficiaries who have a foreign address on file with Social Security. If you don't complete and return the form, your Social Security benefits could be suspended as early as 2027.

Fortunately, there's an easier option than mailing the form. Since last year, you can complete the process by phone.

You can call the Social Security Administration's Office of Earnings & International Operations at 1-855-522-6936 during normal U.S. business hours. You can also contact any local Social Security office and complete the verification over the phone.

When you reach an agent, say: "I am an expat calling to complete my SSA-7162 via phone attestation/signature proxy."

If you're having trouble getting through, consider calling Social Security offices in smaller-population states such as Wyoming, Vermont, North Dakota, or Alaska, where call volumes may be lower and wait times shorter.

This simple phone call can help ensure your Social Security benefits continue without interruption.