General, Retirement, SSI

Social Security Benefits U.S. Citizens Outside the United States

August 8, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: March 17, 2021

Benefits-outside-the-USOver 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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About the Author

Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications

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Comments

  1. Mahendra M.

    My name is Maendra Odhavjee my address wa 26 Dawes Road Belrose NSW 2085 and have change of address details almost year ago and have not received my social security benefits in Commwealth Bank A/C last payment Received was 3 of June 2015 $108 au dollars and according to myCentrelink in Sydney office showing that I am still receiving the us $82 dollars on 3rd of every month I am in proceeds of per entry retiring from 1st of May 2018
    ↵I need your help to what I need to do address problem of receiving my befits
    ↵My social security no is ***-**-****my my pernatant address is 5/54 Glen Street Belrose NSW2085 Australia my contact email odhavjee@odhavjee.com my Mobil no is +61401252129 or work 61294533308 hoping to hear from you soon thanking you Mahendra Odhavjee

    • R.F.

      Hello Mahendra! 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. We hope this information helps.
      Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media and communicating personal information via email. Thanks!

  2. Charles P.

    Hi Ray, that helps clarify things. Thanks so much for the quick and professional response! I appreciate it.

    Charles

  3. Charles P.

    I will be 66 on May 6th of this year, how can I determine my benefits? Thank you very much

    • R.F.

      Hi Charles, our Retirement Estimator is exactly the calculator you are looking for! It gives you future estimates of your monthly Social Security benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.
      In addition, we have a variety of other calculators to help you plan for the future. Which calculator you choose depends on what you want to do.
      We suggest that you create a my Social Security account. With your personal my Social Security account, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more. Happy planning!

      • Charles P.

        Hi Ray, Thanks for the reply. I should have been clearer. I live in Cambodia, so I cannot create a My Social Security Account. I will be retiring here, so I understand I need to do some things differently (such as going to the US Embassy each month to get my benefits payment). Is there a way I can get the retirement information online, or by email? And do I have to apply in Manila, rather than some place else when I apply for benefits. Thanks for your help!

        • R.F.

          Hi Charles! Although you need a U.S. address to register for a my Social Security account, you do not need a U.S. address to access our website or file online for benefits. For security reasons, we do not do direct messaging in this venue.
          If you need any assistance related to your Social Security 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.

  4. Rafael G.

    How can I register for online social security if I do live in the USA. I retired in live in the Philippines receiving social security. But I cannot register online do to no address in the USA.

    • R.F.

      We are sorry for the inconvenience, Rafael. 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!

  5. Dan L.

    I have been living in Australia for the last 18 years. How do I go about contacting SSA to apply for benefits next year. I am familiar with the Manila office but experience difficulty with their office. Also some of the web sites will not upload to my pc.

    • R.F.

      Hi Dan! For assistance related to your Social Security benefits, you can 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 information helps.

  6. Pamela C.

    The US Consulate in the Rep of Panama just announced that services to the SSA concerning “Proof Of Life” are no longer available via our Embassy here. They have now referred us the the Costa Rican Consulate. My parents are 87-77 respectively with disabilities. Is there a way to mail in their proof of life to the SSA?

    • R.F.

      Hi Pamela, beneficiaries who live outside of the United States, should be able to get assistance from the local U.S. embassies or consulates in their area. Just in case, you can access information to our Social Security and consular staff in Costa Rica using this link:
      https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/foreign.htm
      Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps!

  7. Michael A.

    request on my Social Security BENEFITS and from2010 past and still on my a case none to processing for and City of chatsworth California office employee said on $ 2,765 and still none responding for. Do I need an attorney to proof on my a right
    I got a Job Injury End of 2009
    on that company name: MEATCO, PROVISION INC,
    IN CA 90058 and on that job injury was a too hard
    please and please soon as you can answer, please
    MAILING ADDRESS:
    5550 Owens mouth Ave,[APP#112 ]
    Woodland Hills California 91367 USA
    TEL / TEXT: 747-204-8682 ID: 2054 please
    Thank you.

    • R.F.

      Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Please continue working with your local office. If you are unable to visit the local office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week.
      Just a reminder – Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media and communicating personal information via email. Thanks.

  8. SI

    Hi
    I’m 48 years old disabled person who lives in New York State and I have been receiving SSD since 2012. I’m planning to move to Europe before I reach retirement age. Will I continue receiving SSD checks in Europe even though I’m not 62.

  9. Eric T.

    I am a US citizen living permanently in Australia and receiving social security.
    I wish to advise my address change.
    What is the best way of doing this ?
    Thank you.

    • R.F.

      Thank you for using our blog to contact us, Eric. For security reasons, 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. We hope this helps.

  10. thirumala k.

    Hi
    My name is thirumala k battini
    email : thirumalakumarb@gmail.com
    I lived and worked on H1B in USA from 2007 to 2009. Now i moved out from USA and i am not sure if i ever comeback to USA.

    Am i eligible to get the social security benefits

    Thanks
    Thirumala
    7039531483

Comments are closed.