Social Security Benefits U.S. Citizens Outside the United States
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 17, 2021
Over half a million people who live outside the United States receive some kind of Social Security benefit, including retired and disabled workers, as well as spouses, widows, widowers, and children.
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible. When we say you are “outside the United States,” we mean you’re not in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa. Once you’ve been outside the United States for at least 30 days in a row, we consider you to be outside the country.
If you are traveling outside the U.S. for an extended amount of time, it’s important that you tell Social Security the date you plan to leave and the date you plan to come back, no matter how long you expect your travel to last. Then we can let you know whether your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will be affected.
You can use this online tool to find out if you can continue to receive your Social Security benefits if you are outside the United States or are planning to go outside the United States at www.socialsecurity.gov/international/payments_outsideUS.html.
This tool will help you find out if your retirement, disability, or survivor’s payments will continue as long as you are eligible, stop after six consecutive calendar months, or if certain country specific restrictions apply.
When you live outside the United States, periodically we’ll send you a questionnaire. Your answers will help us figure out if you still are eligible for benefits. Return the questionnaire to the office that sent it as soon as possible. If you don’t, your payments will stop. In addition to responding to the questionnaire, notify us promptly about changes that could affect your payments.
You can also read the publication titled Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Social Security is with you through life’s journey, even if that journey takes you outside the United States.
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Tags: Disability, retirement, Social Security benefits, SSI
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Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
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Abdul M.
I am a U.S. citizen living in Pakistan. I was receiving Social Security payments until recently, but now the payments have been stopped due to a software upgrade at SSA in USA. I have provided the required information to the U.S. Embassy to meet the SSA requirements. When can I expect to start receiving Social Security benefits again?
Ray F.
Hi Abdul, please continue working with the U.S. Embassy on this matter. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Thanks.
Patricia B.
Hi,
I lost my SS card and do not know my id number to give a doctor to see.
Can someone help me get my number. I am out of the country at this time and cannot dial 800 numbers. Can I get a normal phone number?
Thank you,
Ray F.
Hello Patricia. For assistance related to Social Security programs, services and benefits, please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Derry C.
Dear Sir Madam , please advise how I can set up a My Social Security account if I live outside the U.S and do not possess an address in the U.S.
Thank you
Derry Conran
Colleen A.
I would like to begin receiving my social security benefits. I received a letter from your office to contact you to begin. the 1 800 number does not work outside of the United States.
Ray F.
Hi Colleen. For your security, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to Social Security programs and benefits.
Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Thanks.
Just a reminder – Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media and communicating personal information via email.
Curtis S.
Hello my name is Curtis Simmons. I live in Germany. I am having trouble with my social security login. I have tried numerous times to create a account. I can not put my full Address in. There are no foreign country’s on this site. How can I create a account to view my files.
Ray F.
We are sorry for the inconvenience, Curtis. The “my Social Security” authentication system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for issuing an account. People with APO/FPO/DPO addresses can create an account overseas, but our system does not support registration and account creation for users with a foreign address yet. Please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Thanks.
Jim m.
hi, I am trying to create my social security account. I live in Canada, and the application doesnt have the ability to put in a foreign address. Is it possible to create one.
Ray F.
We are sorry for the inconvenience, Jim. The “my Social Security” authentication system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for issuing an account. People with APO/FPO/DPO addresses can create an account overseas, but our system does not support registration and account creation for users with a foreign address yet. Please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.
Johann M.
I want to mail with DHL an important document to the
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
DHL needs an actual street address to deliver the letter. Please email me an actual street address
Thank you for your help
Johann M. – Mexico
Ray F.
Thanks for your question, Johann. We do not have access to personal information, therefore, we do not do direct messaging in this venue. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to Social Security programs and benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad.
Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media and communicating personal information via email. We hope this helps!
James S.
I haved lived out of the USA for the last 25 years in Ireland. I became a citizen when i did live in the states. I have my social security number and would like to see if i could be eligible for any benefits as i did pay taxes when i was in the states. Thank you.
Ray F.
Hi James. For your security, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to Social Security programs and benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Thanks.
john b.
Hi, my name is John Bercea,in January 2018 I will be 65 years old,right now I’m in Romania and I will like to apply for social security benefits . I tried to find the right form to complete ,still I can not find it.Please help me .I can not afford to go to US to apply for SS benefits.Thank you in advance.
Jack C.
Dear Sir/ Madam:
I am outside US citizen, married a teacher in Taiwan for 14years, and my wife never apply for US PR ( Green card ).
However , she would like to report tax for me if necessary.
As I know, I have 26 credits and request that her tax report will meet and remedy the 40 credits for me to obtain Social Security Retirement Benefit.
Your reply is highly appreciated!
Best wishes Jack Chang ( 67 years old ) 10/22/2017
Ray F.
Thank you for your question, Mr. Chang. You cannot get more credits by using your wife’s earnings or by voluntarily contributing money to Social Security. You can earn credits only by working in a job or your own business that is covered under Social Security. In some cases, work outside the United States may help you qualify for Social Security benefits. We recommend that individuals living outside the United Sates contact their local U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance related to Social Security benefits. Thanks.