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FEDERAL BENEFITS UNIT (FBU)

The Federal Benefits Unit assists people with questions regarding Social Security and other Federal benefits.

For more information please call the

FEDERAL BENEFITS UNIT IN VIENNA
Tel.: +43-1-313 39, ext. 7539
Open for telephone inquiries: Monday through Friday, 9:30 - 11:30 am
Fax: +43-1-513 43 51

Before coming in person, PLEASE make an appointment.

Please note: the Federal Benefits Unit only serves residents of Austria. No services are provided to residents of other countries.

Services provided include

Social Security Numbers
Applications for new, replacement and corrected Social Security cards.
Securing copies of Social Security records.
Filing applications for Social Security and Veterans Administration retirement, survivor and disability benefits.
Assistance with continuing benefits issues for the Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, Railroad Board, Department of Labor and Office of Personnel Management claims such as changing your address, reporting changes affecting entitlement, and reporting missing payments.
Information about U.S. Social Security coverage when working in Austria.
Information about the U.S.-Austrian Social Security Agreement and combining work under both systems.

Department of Defense retirees must deal directly with their Defense Finance and Accounting Service Center office in the United States.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Status of Federal Checks: All payments continue to be made on a timely basis by the U.S. Treasury. Problems with delays between the U.S. Postal Service and the airlines as a result of additional security measures implemented since September 11 have been eased. Social Security Administration (SAA), Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Veterans' Administration (VA) checks are all being mailed from the United States via international priority airmail and should arrive in country timely.

It is suggested that recipients keep a record of checks received: date, amount, agency (SSA, VA, etc.) claim number shown and whether the check indicates "replacement". This information assists in resolving problems with the non-receipt of subsequent checks and in avoiding the issuance of duplicate checks. Overpayments result from the cashing of both original and duplicate checks and cause interruption in continuing payments or the cost of refunding a duplicate payment.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Basic information is available over the Internet from all of the government agencies for which the Federal Benefit Unit provides service.

These sites are designed primarily for use within the United States. The SSA and VA sites have special pages devoted to international aspects.

Privacy Notice and Disclaimer

e-mail: embassy@usembassy.at