retirement benifits

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Contact information presented at the Federal Benefits Unit outreach meetings in BCS, August 3 and 4:

The FBU at the US Consulate in Guadalajara is responsible for assisting US citizens in the state of Baja California Sur with matters involving Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement, and other federal benefits. A complete listing is available at: http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_fbu.html

For time-sensitive calls and calls involving confidential information, please use Mexican toll-free number (from a Mexican land line or Mexican cell phone): 01 800 772 6394, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 2 PM (mainland time).

For general questions by Email: FBU.Guadalajara@ssa.gov

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for US citizens living or traveling abroad: http://travel.state.gov

US Consular Agency in Los Cabos: 624 143 3566

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Tarjeta INAPAM
Posted by: "washembfs" washembfs@yahoo.com washembfs
Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:01 pm (PST)



This is the Mexican AARP card except it actually has value.

You can get this card if you are more than 60 years old. The INAPAM
office is the first door on the right when you walk up to the DIF
building at Abosolo and Colosio. when you enter the door turn to your
right and go down the hallway to the first office on the right.

It took me more time to find the office than it did to get the card.
When you are there you need some Spanish but not fluency. They are most
helpful and are there to help.

Here's what you need to get the card:

1. Copy of your passport and FMM or Fm3/2

2Copy of your CURP ( you get the CURP Registro Civil 2nd floor - on
Allende between Madero and Revolucion- you'll need a copy of your
passport, FMM, and a bill that shows you live here-CFE, water, property
tax bill)

3. A copy of a bill that proves you live here (see 2 above).

4.You DO NOT NEED A PHOTO. They take a photo with the computer camera.
In a minute or 2 they hand you a laminated card and you are on your way.

And why you want this card?

Among the reasons are:

50% off property tax and water.

50% off bus fares in the city (I got a ticket to SJD on the shuttle for
$166MX and my young bride had to pay $320+) Aguila fares are also 50%
off)

and more discuentos then i can list here. Whip out your card and see if
a business offers a discuento.

Hope you take advantage of this.

from lapaz gringos

The card is available to anyone 60 or over providing that they are a citizen or possess a valid FM 2 or FM 3 visa.

Originally issued by INSEN (Instituto Nacional de la Senectud) it has now been take over by INAPAM (Instituto Nacional de Las Personas Adultas Mayores.)


Where:
The INAPAM office is in the Rehabilitation Center at the NW corner of Abasolo and Colosio. Entrance is in the middle on the east side of the building. You need your FM2 or FM3, your passport, a utility bill showing your address, and your drivers license as well as copies of each. Also take two infantil (smaller than passport) size photographs Process takes about 1/2 hour and you leave with the card. Wait time may be quite long as there is only one agent issuing cards. Show up before 9:00 am for shortest wait.

View from Abasolo Entry is open door on right

Turn right just inside entry door Office is on the right

Benefits:
• Property taxes – 50% discount
• SAPA – 50% discount
• Ferries – 50% discount
• Bus – 50% discount
• Transito - discount on one car license
• INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) – free
• Cinepolis – Equals the same as a matinee
• Stores throughout La Paz offer varying discounts


Further Information:
Web site: http://www.inapam.gob.mx/ - INAPAM
Web site for list of locations offering discounts: http://www.inapam.gob.mx/directoriodebeneficios.xls - Directorio de Beneficios

from BPE
http://groups.google.com/group/bajaponyexpress3/web/441-11-1-08?hl=en


a. Age 60 or Over? Benefits in Mexico Now Available to Non-Mexicans as of August 15, 2007. If you're 60+ years old, this card could save you a bundle. Foreigners who are age 60 or older and who hold a valid residence visa for Mexico can now take part in Mexico's Personas Adultas Mayores benefits program. The program offers discounts on a wide range of services, including on health-related services (hospitals, doctors' visits, lab tests, medical devices, pharmacies, and dental work); cultural activities like theater tickets and entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites; transportation and accommodation, including airline tickets, buses, car rentals and purchase; and at hotels and many stores. Discounts can range from 5% to 50% off the full price of the good or service.
Non-Mexicans who wish to take part in the program must go to a local office of the Instituto Nacional de las Personas Adultas Mayores (National Institute for Senior Citizens, or INAPAM) to request a membership card. If you already live in Mexico and would like to visit the office nearest you, you will find a list of INAPAM locations here http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1323959/19254800/828218/0/
You'll have to show the following documentation:
* Original passport (plus a photocopy) showing that you're at least 60 years old
* Picture ID (original plus photocopy)
* Contact information for someone responsible for you in case of an accident or emergency
* Passport-size photo
* A valid FM-2 or FM-3 residence visa, plus proof of address in Mexico
Keep in mind that not all INAPAM field office staff may be aware that these benefits extend to foreigners, as this is a new development within the last three months. When our reporter visited the INAPAM office in Campeche, for example, her inquiries were met with blank stares. At her insistence, the Campeche representative called INAPAM headquarters in Mexico City and found that, yes, indeed—foreigners with Mexico residence visas are eligible.
Once you have your INAPAM membership card in hand, show it at participating locations to get your discount. The card is valid throughout Mexico—as well as for some services in foreign countries (Best Western Hotels in Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and
Ecuador, for example, offer discounts to INAPAM cardholders).
* You can download the entire list of participating companies and the discounts they offer, in Spanish, here .. Keep in mind that this particular list covers participants primarily in Mexico City—you'll want to get a comprehensive list for your Mexico location from your local INAPAM office.
I have just spent some time looking through the list and it is so extensive that my head is swimming. Some of the highlights:
* 50% discount on public buses
* 5% discount on purchases at Gigante stores nationwide (some local stores may offer even larger discounts)
* 20% discount on medication purchases at Farmacias del Ahorro pharmacies.
* Up to 30% discount at restaurants and pizzerias
* 10% to 50% discounts from participating attorneys and accountants
* Up to 30% off the cost of automobile service work and 30% off the cost of new tires
* 25% off hardware, 20% off construction materials, and 20% off the cost of construction work
* Up to 50% off at the hair stylist's
* 25% off floral arrangements
* 25% off dry cleaning
* Up to 50% off veterinarian and pet grooming services
* 50% off language classes
* And discounts on everything from food to clothes and shoes to appliances, even cars.
Entertainment? You get free admittance to almost all museums and archeological sites. Take art classes or go to the theater for 50% off. Go see a movie for 20 pesos (less than two bucks). Save up to 50% at the gym. Save up to 50% on hotel costs. (Both the Hotel Real de Minas and the Hotel Misión de los Angeles in San Miguel de Allende offer a 50% discount, for example. You can save 40% at the all-inclusive Qualton Club in Puerto Vallarta, and 50% at the Best Wetern Cancún Clipper in Cancún.) Get 10-15% off airfares from American, Avianca, Mexicana, Lufthansa Airlines, and more. Get your third day free from Hertz Car Rental, and save up to
50% on travel agency services.
Medical services, though, is where this program shines. There are discounts on every kind of service. Save 40% on ambulance services, and up to 50% on services from specialists like cardiologists, dermatologists, ENT and gastro specialists, gynecologists, neurologists, oncologists, sports medicine specialists, ophthalmologists, dentists, surgeons (even cosmetic surgeons). Reallythere are just too many to list here Looking for alternative medicine specialists? You can save up to 50% or more there, too.
Save 20-30% on prescription costs, 30% on orthopedic apparatus, up to 40% on eyeglasses. Save up to 25% on hospital bills, 50% on lab work, and if all else fails, save 30% on funeral services.
According to INAPAM officials, they're adding more participating companies all the time—so once you have an INAPAM membership card, it's worth asking about the discount before you pay full price.
Another thing to keep in mind is that most of the goods and services I have mentioned cost far less in Mexico than they do just a few miles north on the other side of the Rio Grande. But do you get the same quality of service? Yes. And many times even better.
In recent years, Mexico has taken a back seat to some other Latin American nations when it has come to offering benefits to foreign retirees. And cost of living? I believe it can be even lower in Mexico than in those other booming Latin economies. Mark my words: when word gets out about these benefitsand people learn just how easy it is to live and do business in Mexico, you'll see more and more opting for La Vida Buena only found
in Mexico. - Suzan Haskins, Mexico First Alerts, InternationalLiving.com http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1323959/19254800/819647/0/ - Contributed by Wendy Rains.