Social Security check lost after changing direct deposit to Canada - need urgent help

yeah they told me same thing when i moved to mexico, had to go to border office in texas. such a pain but eventually got fixed. checks r in limbo til they process international stuff

This is a common issue with international direct deposits for Social Security benefits. The problem is that most local SSA offices aren't authorized to process international banking information - it has to go through specific Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) or border offices that handle international cases. You have three options: 1. Visit a border SSA office (Detroit would be closest to Toronto) 2. Contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the US Embassy in Ottawa 3. Schedule a phone appointment with an international benefits specialist at SSA Your payment isn't lost - it's likely been returned to Treasury and will be reissued once your correct banking info is processed. The Federal Benefits Unit at the embassy is probably your best option since you're already in Canada.

MY SON HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT WITH GERMANY!!! SSA is TERRIBLE with international stuff!! His payment was missing for 3 MONTHS before they finally fixed it!! He had to call EVERY SINGLE DAY and got nowhere until he found some service that got him through to an actual person who fixed it. I think it was called Claimyr or something? They shouldn't make it so HARD for Americans living abroad!!!!

You don't necessarily need to drive anywhere - my mom had a similar issue when she moved to Spain last year. What worked for her was sending a secure message through her my Social Security account online, specifically requesting help with international direct deposit. They assigned her case to a specialist who called her back (scheduled time) and fixed everything. Took about 3 weeks total but no driving required. Worth trying before making the trip!

can u get a US bank account and just keep using that? thats what my sister does in australia. gets SS in her US bank then transfers to aus bank herself. avoids all this international deposit drama

I've helped several clients navigate international Social Security issues. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your payment isn't lost permanently - it's likely been returned to Treasury and is on hold 2. The Buffalo office was correct - only certain offices handle international cases 3. For Canada specifically, you have these options: - Contact the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) at Ottawa Embassy - Visit the Detroit field office (they handle Canadian cases) - Schedule a dedicated international benefits specialist call 4. Important: Make sure you're using the correct form - SSA-1199-OP1 (Canada) for direct deposit The most efficient approach is emailing Ottawa's FBU (FBU.Ottawa@ssa.gov) with your information. Include your SSN, Canadian address, and full banking details. They typically respond within 3-5 business days and can process your direct deposit correctly.

Just wanted to add - if you do end up needing to visit Detroit, call ahead to schedule an appointment. The Detroit field office gets swamped with Canadian cases and walk-ins can wait hours. I learned this the hard way when helping my neighbor with his SSI payments to his Toronto bank. Also, bring ALL your documentation - Canadian banking info, proof of address, ID, etc. They're very thorough with international cases and missing one document means another trip.

I went through this exact same situation when I moved to Vancouver! My December payment disappeared into thin air after I tried to update my banking info online. Here's what actually worked for me after weeks of frustration: Don't waste time with the regular SSA phone line - I called 47 times (yes, I counted) and got nowhere. The FBU at the Ottawa embassy is definitely your best bet. Email them at FBU.Ottawa@ssa.gov with "URGENT - Missing Social Security Payment" in the subject line. Include your full name, SSN, the missing payment amount/date, and your complete Canadian banking info. They responded to me within 2 days and had my payment reissued within a week. The key is being very specific about what happened and when. Also, they told me that international direct deposits often get "flagged" by their system and require manual processing, which is why local offices can't help. Pro tip: While you're waiting, you can also request a one-time emergency payment if you're in financial hardship. The FBU can arrange this too. Hang in there - your money isn't gone, just stuck in bureaucratic limbo!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - moved from Seattle to Montreal and my Social Security disability payments got completely messed up when I tried to switch to a Canadian bank. It's been 6 weeks and I'm still waiting! Reading through all these responses is giving me some hope though. For anyone else going through this, I found out that you can also contact your local congressman's office - they have liaisons who can help with federal benefit issues. My cousin used this route when she was having Medicare problems while living in France, and they were able to get through to the right people at SSA much faster than she could on her own. The whole system seems designed to make it as difficult as possible for Americans living abroad. It shouldn't take driving to border cities or embassy visits just to update a bank account! But at least there are people here sharing actual solutions that work.

I work for a benefits advocacy service and see this issue constantly with US-Canada moves. The good news is your payment is absolutely not lost - it's been returned to Treasury and is sitting there waiting for proper processing. Here's the fastest resolution path based on what I've seen work: 1. Email Ottawa FBU immediately at FBU.Ottawa@ssa.gov with subject "SSN [your number] - Missing April 2025 SS Payment - International Direct Deposit Issue" 2. In the email, include: Your full name, SSN, current Toronto address, the exact amount missing ($2,125), payment date (April), your Canadian bank's institution number, transit number, and account number 3. Mention you already attempted resolution through Buffalo office and were told only border offices/embassies handle international cases The Ottawa FBU typically responds within 48-72 hours for missing payment cases. They can track exactly where your payment went and fast-track the direct deposit setup. I've seen them resolve cases like yours in under a week once they have all the info. If you don't hear back within 5 business days, then consider the Detroit office route, but Ottawa should handle this efficiently since you're already in Canada. Don't stress - this happens more often than you'd think and always gets resolved eventually!

I'm going through something similar right now - moved to Calgary and my SSA payments got completely screwed up when I tried to update my direct deposit. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the Federal Benefits Unit at the Ottawa embassy - I was planning to drive all the way to Seattle to visit an SSA office there. One thing I want to add that might help others: if you're still waiting for your payment to get sorted out and you're having financial hardship, you can request what's called a "critical payment" through the embassy. They can sometimes issue emergency payments while your regular direct deposit is being fixed. I learned this from a Social Security rep who actually knew what they were talking about (rare!). The whole international banking thing with SSA is such a nightmare, but at least there are people here who've actually been through it and can share what works. Thanks everyone for the detailed advice!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - moved from Phoenix to Vancouver last month and my SSI payments completely disappeared when I tried to update my banking information online. It's been almost 3 weeks now and I'm getting really worried about my rent money. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful though! I had no idea there was a Federal Benefits Unit at the Ottawa embassy - I was literally planning to take the bus all the way back to Arizona just to visit an SSA office. The specific email address and phone number that @Giovanni Gallo shared is exactly what I needed. One question for those who've been through this - when you contacted the Ottawa FBU, did they ask for any specific documentation beyond just your banking info? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I reach out. Also, did anyone else have trouble with the SSA website showing conflicting information about international direct deposits? Mine still shows my old US bank account but also has some kind of error message about international processing. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than the confusing official SSA guidance!