| How can I teach school or volunteer in Costa Rica?
There are several U.S.-curriculum and English-medium schools
in Costa Rica, and some of them recruit teachers in the United
States. If you are interested in teaching school in Costa
Rica or another foreign country, see the U.S. Department of
State's Overseas Schools page for a list of recruiting organizations
and for information on schools that are supported by the U.S.
government overseas.
The Peace Corps has a small number of volunteers in Costa
Rica. Other U.S. non-profit programs such as WorldTeach have
placed volunteers in Costa Rica in past years. The Embassy
has no specific information on volunteer opportunities at
this time. The Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC (202-234-2945)
may have additional information about volunteer programs.
Can I receive my Social Security checks at the U.S.
Embassy?
Only military personnel can receive their Social Security
checks at the U.S. Embassy. The recipient should have at least
20 years of service. In order to receive checks at the embassy,
you must fill out a registration form to be submitted to and
approved by the Office of the Defense Representative in the
embassy.
At one time, all other beneficiaries could receive checks
in Costa Rica by registering with the Federal Benefits Unit.
You needed to provide the embassy with your home and mailing
addresses, phone number, identification document and Social
Security number. The checks were received through Diplomatic
Pouch and were mailed via registered mail”to the address
indicated in your registration document. The problem was the
checks did not reach your post office box until the middle
of the month.
The good news is that a couple of Costa Rican banks now offer
direct deposit to your account by the third of each month.
Please check with the embassy to see which banks provide this
service and what forms have to be filled out.
For information about all of Social Security's programs,
see their website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov.
What inoculations do I need for Costa Rica? How is
medical care in Costa Rica?
There are no required inoculations for Costa Rica, but it
is a good idea to check with your physician for recommendations
of optional inoculations and health precautions. Costa Rica
is suffering an outbreak of dengue fever, although the incidence
remains lower than in other Central American countries. Dengue
is transmitted by mosquito bite and there is no vaccine. Anyone
planning to travel in affected areas should take steps to
avoid mosquito bites. These include wearing long sleeves and
pants, using insect repellent on exposed skin, and sleeping
under mosquito netting.
Medical care in the capital city of San José is adequate.
However, in areas outside of San José medical care
is more limited. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate
cash payment for health services.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United
States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas
coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, has
proven useful in many emergencies.
How can I register with the U.S. Embassy?
All travelers should register with the embassy in case an
emergency occurs in Costa Rica or at home.
Go to the Embassy Consular Section, Window C, Mondays 8 a.m.
and 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
You can also send the embassy your information on-line: include
name, passport number, travel plans, local contact in Costa
Rica, and next-of-kin contact information in the United States.
Registration online will not serve to prove citizenship in
case of passport loss, but will provide a basis for which
an emergency passport may be issued.
In person registration is necessary to be entered in embassy
records as an American citizen.
Those American citizens who are living in Costa Rica, whether
or not they are official residents, should also register.
Do I have access to APO privileges in the U.S. Embassy?
If you are a holder of a U.S. military identification card,
you may use the embassy's Army Post Office privileges.
Whay if I Work Outside the United States?
If you work or own a business outside the U.S. and are younger
than full retirement age, notify the nearest U.S. Embassy
or consulate or Social Security office right away. If you
do not, it could result in a penalty that could cause the
loss of benefits. This loss of benefits is in addition to
benefits that may be withheld under one of the work tests
explained on the following pages.
For people born in 1937 or earlier, full retirement age is
65. Beginning with people born in 1938, full retirement age
increases gradually until it reaches age 67 for those born
in 1960 or later.
Report your work even if the job is part-time or you are
selfemployed. Some examples of the types of work which should
be reported are work as an apprentice, farmer, sales representative,
tutor, writer, etc. If you own a business, notify us even
if you do not work in the business or receive any income from
it.
If a child beneficiary (regardless of age) begins an apprenticeship,
notify the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate or the Social
Security Administration. An apprenticeship may be considered
work under the Social Security program.
The following work tests may affect the amount of your monthly
benefit payment. Work after full retirement age does not affect
the payment of benefits.
The Foreign Work Test
Benefits are withheld for each month a beneficiary younger
than full retirement age works more than 45 hours outside
the U.S. in employment or self-employment not subject to U.S.
Social Security taxes. It does not matter how much was earned
or how many hours were worked each day.
A person is considered to be working on any day he or she:
- Works as an employee or self-employed person;
- Has an agreement to work even if he or she does not actually work because of
sickness, vacation, etc.; or
- Is the owner or part owner of a trade or business even if he or she does not
actually work in the trade or business or receive any income
from it.
Generally, if a retired worker's benefits are withheld because
of his or her work, no benefits can be paid to anyone else
receiving benefits on his or her record for those months.
However, the work of others receiving benefits on the worker's
record affects only their own benefits.
*Courtesy of the U.S. Embassy
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