How often do you check your mailbox? If you are an ex-pat in a foreign country and don't want your SSA benefits to be terminated, it's important to complete the Proof of Life form SSA sends out every two years at the beginning of June. (Yours will come in odd numbered years if your SSN ends in -00 to -49; in even numbered years for -50 to -99.) Some ex-pats send the form EVERY year just to be safe.
SSA is serious about terminating your benefits. The reason for asking if you're still alive, of course, is to prevent fraud. There have been numerous cases of ID theft in which a deceased person's personal info was stolen in order to collect those monthly checks, which would also explain why one must have a witness to attest that you signed the form. I know of folks who were cut off for failure to take this step. Yes, the good ole' SSA really will do it.
If you lost this form or never received it, you can go to ssa.gov and download a copy. In addition to mailing it snail mail, it might be advisable to also transmit it via email to the Embassy in Ecuador.
Regards
PS50