American Citizens
Federal Benefits Unit
Federal Benefits Unit
United States Consular Agency
7 avenue Gustave V
06000 Nice- France
Tel. 04-93-88-89-55
Fax 04-93-87-07-38
The Federal Benefits Office is open to the public Monday-Friday from 9.00 am-11:30 am and from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, except French and American holidays.
Services provided include:
- 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, 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 France.
- Information about the U.S./France Social Security Agreement.
Please Note: Department of Defense retirees must deal directly with their Defense Finance and Accounting Service Center office in the United States.
Social Security Numbers
Social Security numbers are issued only to United States citizens, legally admitted resident aliens (green card holders).Certain individuals are required to have a number by U.S. State or local law which conforms with Federal law.In this instance, the applicant must provide a letter on letterhead stationery (no form letters or photocopies) from the U.S. agency requiring them to get a number. The letter must specifically identify the applicant, cite the law requiring them to have a Social Security number and indicate that the applicant meets all of the agency's requirements, except having the number.Immigrating aliens generally secure a number after lawful admission to the U.S. Typical processing time for applications filed in the United States is approximately 5-10 days. To secure a Social Security number, an application Form SS-5 must be completed. A passport or green card and a certified copy of a birth record established before age 5 must be presented. Cards should be received from the Social Security Administration in Baltimore within three months of completing the application process. Individuals age 18 or older and applying for the first time must do so in person at the Federal Benefits Unit. The Social Security Administration is required to verify the birth certificate presented in evidence with the Registrar of the State of birth. This delays issuance of cards for six months or more. U.S. citizens registering a child as a citizen through the Consular Report of Birth Abroad have automatically filed for a Social Security number for that child. If a card is not received within four months, contact the Federal Benefits Unit. Parents filing an application for a child’s number are required to provide their own Social Security numbers if they have one. The parent signing the applications must also provide identification such as their passport or green card. Non-resident aliens requiring a number for purposes of filing a U.S. tax return must file a Form W-7 Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) with the Internal Revenue Service.
Individual states may require a Social Security number for record keeping purposes. Aliens may not have a Social Security number issued for these purposes unless required by State or local law which conforms with Federal law. Aliens not otherwise entitled to a number and planning on attending school in the United States may be asked for a Social Security number by the school. This is for record keeping purposes and is not authorized by Federal law. The school should be asked to assign its own internal number. If a Social Security number is required to conduct business with a U.S. bank or financial institution and Federal law does not otherwise allow the issuance of a number, ask the Internal Revenue Service for a Form W-8, Certificate of Foreign Status.