When Financial Damage Collides With Life Abroad
There are moments in this work that remind me exactly why I do what I do.
Recently, I worked with a client who had gone seven months without receiving a Social Security payment. Not because he wasn’t eligible. Not because paperwork was missing. But because of a cascade of banking issues that began with one institution and quietly snowballed into something much bigger.
At some point, his bank simply canceled him.
No warning. No clean explanation. And suddenly, his Social Security benefits — the income he relies on — stopped arriving altogether.
When he came to me, he wasn’t confused. He was exhausted.
And that’s usually the real problem.
What People Don’t See Behind the Scenes
From the outside, situations like this can sound simple:
“Just call Social Security.”
“Just update the account.”
“Just wait — it’ll fix itself.”
But when you’re living abroad, dealing with cross-border banking, multiple institutions, time zones, and systems that don’t talk to each other, nothing is simple.
What this case required wasn’t a single phone call — it required:
Staying with the process long after most people would give up
Tracking inconsistencies across institutions
Knowing who to talk to and when
And not letting the issue get dropped when the first answer was “no”
This wasn’t fast.
But it was steady.
The Outcome That Made It Worth It
This week, everything landed.
Seven months of delinquent Social Security funds were deposited successfully into his account in Mexico.
No partial fixes. No “we’ll see.”
Just resolution.
And then I received this review from him:
*“I could not be more pleased with Lisa! She was very responsive, reasonable and she stayed with the program until we were successful!
My bank cancelled me due to an unfortunate experience with another bank! The bottom line is that I had not received a social security check in seven months! With Lisa’s help, all the delinquent funds arrived this week! Do business with Lisa and she will solve your problems!”*
I share this not to boast — but to be very clear about something.
Why This Work Matters to Me
Most people don’t need information.
They need someone who won’t disappear when things get complicated.
Living abroad adds layers to everything:
Banking
Benefits
Bureaucracy
And stress when systems fail
My role isn’t just to point someone in the right direction.
It’s to stay with the problem until it’s actually solved.
This case reminded me that persistence, experience, and calm follow-through still matter — especially when the stakes are high.
And yes — it felt really good to see this one through.
If You’re Dealing With Something Similar
If you’re navigating life abroad and something important has gone sideways — benefits, banking, logistics, or bureaucracy — know this:
You’re not crazy.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Sometimes the solution isn’t quick — but it is possible.
Lisa May — In The Know Mexico 🏡
