FEDERAL BENEFITS UNIT

What is it?

The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) is part of the American Citizens Services section in the Consular section of American Embassies and Consulates. The FBU is responsible for administering programs on behalf of U.S. federal agencies that pay benefits to both American citizens and to third country nationals. The FBU assists customers who are entitled to U.S. government benefits in soliciting their benefits and also with post-entitlement issues. In Panama benefit checks are delivered to the FBU for coordination and mailing. Currently there are also efforts to deliver benefits electronically, via direct deposit.

Due to the specialized nature of Federal Benefit programs, the role of the FBU is to answer routine questions and to forward more complex inquiries to the appropriate federal agency. An FBU normally assists persons in interpreting forms and letters sent to them by agencies. The assistance may include review or completion of forms, including change of address requests, and forwarding of these forms to the paying agency. Agencies normally correspond directly with the interested party, but may issue specific instructions on a case to an FBU for assistance in resolution. An FBU may also play a role in program integrity issues, such as verifying whereabouts and existence of beneficiaries.

Embassies and consulates which have high concentrations of persons entitled to federal benefits employ staff who dedicate 100% of their time to FBU work and have received specialized training from benefits paying agencies. Additionally, there are currently seven Regional Federal Benefits Officers assigned by benefits paying agencies to the State Department to coordinate FBU issues. They are stationed at foreign posts and have regional responsibilities for coordination and consultation. Panama’s regional Federal Benefits Officer is based in San Jose, Costa Rica.