San José – Costa Rica 

Calle 120 Avenida 0, Pavas, San José, Costa Rica 
Hours of operation
PH: (506) 2519-2228 FAX: (506) 2220-2455 
email: consularsanjose@state.gov

The Federal Benefits Unit offers assistance and advice regarding U.S. Social Security, Veterans and other U.S. Federal benefits programs.

No appointments are needed. We attend the public on a first-come first-served basis.You may apply at this office for different types of Social Security Benefits: retirement, spouse’s, survivors and disability benefits, or any combination of those benefits. We will let you know which benefits you are entitled to after we determine your eligibility for them.

You may also report your change of address, death of a beneficiary, a lost or stolen check and request direct deposit of you benefits into a U.S. bank account.

Note, however, 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 credits.

If you have never worked or have worked very little, you may not qualify for benefits.

IF YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER CARD AT THIS OFFICE:

You need to come in to the Federal Benefits Unit in the Consular Section. Please enter the Embassy through the Consular Section entrance to the left of the main entrance. Applicants are assisted on a first-come first-served basis. If you need an ORIGINAL CARD (you have NEVER been assigned a Social Security Number before), you must show us proof of:

AGE: BIRTH CERTIFICATE or BAPTISMAL RECORD; and 
IDENTITY: U.S PASSPORT. If you need to apply for a REPLACEMENT CARD, you will only need to show us your U.S. PASSPORT. Applicants who are age 18 or older must apply in person. NOTE: the issuance of your card may take up to 4 months. There is no cost for this service. 

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE DIFFERENT FEDERAL BENEFIT PROGRAMS 

PLEASE VISIT THE BELOW LISTED WEB SITES: 

• Social Security Administration 
• U.S. Veterans Administration: The Federal Benefits Unit handles Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) survivors claims, educational benefits, compensation and pension examinations, etc. 
• Civil Service – US Office of Personnel Management offers information for federal employee benefits such as retirement programs, thrift plans and health insurance. 
• U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB): administers comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for the nation's railroad workers and their families. The RRB also administers certain Social Security benefit payments and railroad workers' Medicare coverage. 

Contact us:
PH: (506) 2519-2228 FAX: (506) 2220-2455 
email: consularsanjose@state.gov

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