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. Angelica P.

    I have direct deposit of my social security funds and my husband’s funds into Chase Bank. We reside in Chile and would like to know if it is possible to change banks to a local chilean bank and what is the procedure.

  2. Joseph H.

    1 – How often are the questionnaires sent by Social Security to US citizens living abroad?

    2 – Are these questionnaires sent by snail mail? By e-mail?

    3 – What if the country where the US citizen lives has a very poor unreliable postal system?

    • R.F.

      Hi Joseph. Under current law, we are required to periodically verify if individuals living outside the United Sates are still eligible for Social Security benefits.
      Generally, these questionnaires, are mailed once a year. For security reasons, we do not do direct messaging.
      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.

  3. Rebecca H.

    What countries can I move to where I can still keep my social security benefits?

  4. Graciela N.

    I am a US citizen living overseas. I tried to obtain a “my social Security” and I was not able to do so. Is it possible?

    • J.Y.

      Thank you for using our blog to communicate with us. 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. For assistance related to Social Security benefits, please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate. Also, our Office of International Operations provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Keep in mind that even though 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 to file online for benefits. We hope this helps!

  5. nageen

    im mother of 3 US citizen childrens,out side of USA how can i apply for SSI Banefits as we r middle class family

    • J.Y.

      Greetings! If you are living outside of the U.S., and believe you may qualify for benefits, you can also contact your local Embassy or Consulate at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign/foreign.htm to find out information about your account or any claims that you may file. Hope this helps!

      • nageen

        Greeting, thanks for replying me.
        first of all, that I am not clear about benefit of SSI, if u help me I will be highly appriciated
        1. I have 3 US national children and we (parents) are not US citizen neithedr have a greencard ….
        we havent pay any tex to US govt. after that.
        IS my children are eligibal for banefits for SSI living out side of US?

        as we are living out side of US ( pakistan), we have limited income as grand parent of children are living with us and only father of children support whole family mumber. my children are going to school and the frees are high and as we are middile class family

        the link which you send me have no information for my country (pakistan)
        regards.

  6. Ewalani E.

    I am a us landed immigrant living in ridgetown Ontario Canada.i applied for social security card at American embasy in sept 2017 so I could receive part of my spouse us railroad retirement.Presently still have not received card Could you kindly assist me thankyou

    • R.F.

      Hi Ewalani. Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. If you applied for a Social Security card for the first time, it may take longer than usual. On your receipt there should be a local phone number for you to call and speak to someone about the status of your Social Security card or you may have to return to the U.S. Embassy where you filed your application. When you go, take the documents you originally presented as evidence. We hope this helps!

  7. Tamra P.

    Dear Social Security Support Team,

    I have been living outside the U.S. for years now, teaching English and French all over, UAE, Egypt, and now Qatar for example, and I noted in the above reading that one should verify if they are “still eligible.” I had worked about 20 years in the states already, with SS being taken out of my checks for years. How is it possible that one can lose their eligibility, if one is American, but no longer living full time in the U.S.? Can you please advise me? Thanks so much, Tamara

  8. Contress j.

    I have live in australia for 40 years do I have soc sec benefits my name is contress joy, don 11/11/1952 I am 65 years old my email is countressjoy@gmail . Com, please let me know I am I. Australia

    • R.F.

      We do not have access to personal information, therefore, we do not do direct messaging in this venue.
      Generally, you will need to have 40 credits, or at least 10 years of work paying Social Security taxes in the United States, to qualify for any type of Social Security benefit.
      When living abroad, you may contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate for information on Social Security programs and benefits. Thanks!

      Just a reminder – Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media and communicating personal information via email.

  9. Mark

    When I turn 70 I am eligible for 2,600 a month. I am currently receiving 900 a month from my Arizona State Pension. At 70 years old, will I be able to receive both checks in full?

  10. Jason C.

    I am currently living in Canada and plan to move back to the US. I am a US citizen and have a social security number. Do we have to re-register under Homeland Security. There was a memo circulating indicating this.

    Or am I free to move back and live/work with my SSN?

    thanks,

    Jason

    • R.F.

      Hello Jason, your Social Security number does not expire, but anyone replacing their SSN card must prove they remain eligible to have one. All new employers will ask for your Social Security number and some might ask to see your SSN card.
      Please visit The Department of Homeland Security web site for information on traveling back to the United States. Thanks!

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