Social Security Application Requirements
January 4, 2013
Your application for benefits, including Social Security, must be:
Made on a prescribed form;
Signed by a proper person (see §1501);
Received by one of the offices (or persons) specified in §§1505 and 1506; and
Received while you (or the person eligible for benefits) are still living.
Note: This requirement does not apply to applications for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits where the deceased was disabled prior to death. An application for disability insurance benefits may be filed by a qualified individual (see §1902) within three months after the month of death of the disabled person.
(Where an individual dies after requesting benefits in writing, but before filing a prescribed form, see §1509.)
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According to the Social Security Administration: Throughout the world, there are a number of American embassies and consulates who have specially trained personnel that provide a full range of Social Security services, including the taking of applications for benefits. By locating your country of residence via the link below, you can access information on the Social Security-trained U.S. embassy or consulate that provide services for that country: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign/foreign.htm