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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Javier H.
I am retired I receive Social Security, I must send the Form SSA-7162-OCRSM (7-2011) to Social Security, I need to send this form from Mexico, it says that I must send it with two months and it is very short because only 20 days, the Government of Mexico through its postal mail takes 3 months, the companies like FEDEX and others, first that do not deliver to PO BOX in the US. That means I must send it to my son for 50 dollars through DHL and then my son send it to the Social Security office. How do I send “online” or how to send it? Thank you.
Harsh V.
Did not receive Questionnaire for yr.2018 (comes May/June) pl let me know to whom should i contact
R.F.
We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in their area. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Thanks!
Paul M.
i’m looking for a place overseas to retire that I can live on my Social Security Disability . I make $2,049.00 before my insurance is taken out and I clear $1915.00 after. i would like to be on the ocean, however that is not necessary.
I just want warm weather. Please contact me to where I might be able to go. All I need is a one bedroom effiency with a smaill kitchen and bath, preferabably a seperate bedroom.
a seperately bedroom or a pull down bed. Thank you very much.
June T.
I did not receive my social security benefit for Nov 2017. The cheque should have been received in Dec 2017. How should I proceed?
My name is June Tidey, Social Security No. *** – ** – *** What additional information is required? My address is:
131 Centre Street,
Essex, Ontario N8M 1P6
Thank you for your prompt response.
R.F.
Hello June. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog. One of our representatives should be able to provide you with assistance in this matter. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. 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 during the day or later in the week. Thanks!
R.F.
Hi June, based on the information and mailing address you provided, we recommend that you contact the nearest Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in your area. Please read our publication “Your Payments While You are Outside the United States” for more important information. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. In your case, you can also use the Canadian Service Area Directory to determine which Resident Office is near you.
We hope this helps!
Shane P.
My father immigrated to America in 1992 as a residential alien. He worked for 10 years here got sick and went back home. Is he able to collect the social security he paid into . Since now he is 66
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Shane. Please see our “Noncitizens” – Frequently Asked Questions web page for important information. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in their area, for assistance with Social Security services. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps!
Philip G.
I am a Canadian who worked in the USA with a social security number. I am fully vested from my last statement so how do I find out if I am eligible for Social security and how I will get per month. I worked in the USA under a T-1 Visa for many years.
R.F.
Hello Philip, we recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in their area, for assistance with Social Security services. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. You can also use the Canadian Service Area Directory to determine which Resident Office is near you.
We hope this helps!
Thanks.
Carlos E.
Can I open a my account living outside the USA ? Can I make changes, etc ?
R.F.
Hello Carlos, 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.
We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Federal Benefits Unit in their area.
If you or a family member are already receiving Social Security benefits and you would like to report a change in status, you may contact us by mail or you can contact Us by Phone. Visit our Office of Earnings & International Operations web page for more information. Thanks!
Mir
If you left your country due to safety of your life, and came to US as legal immigrant, and now are a US citizen, can SSI cut your benefits because they say you have to get pension from your previous employer from the country you came from? Recently I lost my SSI because I was told to see pension from the country which left. I have been living in US for the past 27 years and never went back to my home country. I’m afraid, if I go back, they will put me to present.
R.F.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a needs-based program that provides cash assistance to the elderly (age 65 and older), disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.
Current law requires that individuals receiving SSI benefits, inform us of their eligibility for other benefits or payments and thus apply for such benefits as soon as they become eligible. Failure to apply can result in suspension or termination of their SSI benefits.
diane d.
do persons of Puerto Rico receive welfare checks & food stamps from the United States govt
Tee
I am an Australian and used to married to an American man for 7 years and have been working there for 7years as well. I divorced him due to personal issues and have moved back to Australia with my son who was also born in California on February 2008. I currently work in my home country and just wondering, can I withdraw my Social Security contributions since I do not live or work in the USA anymore? I have 3children to my current partner and also my husband here in Australia and the way things are here, I don’t think I will ever move back to California. So does that mean the payment I’ve made to Social Security US will be flushed down the toilet if I can’t somehow withdraw it??