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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Portia S.
My friend died while living overseas. How do her children cancel the benefits being paid in her overseas account. Her name is Karen Hunziker soc sec # XXX-XX-XXXX… she’d died 8/16/18 in Thalwil Switzerland
R.F.
We’re sorry for your loss, Portia. We should be notified as soon as possible when a person dies. However, you cannot report a death or apply for survivors benefits online.
Please keep in mind that if the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, payments received for the month of death and any later months, must be returned.
We ask 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.
Michael
Dear Sir/Madam:
I sent back SSA Form 7162 (Proof of Life) via registered mail on June 20, 2018 and was expecting it to be delivered in 3 weeks from the Philippines like last year’s. Unfortunately, USPS must have mishandled the mail and I just found out after numerous calls to them (thru tacking system) that it was only delivered on August 17, 2018. My question now is whether that would still fall within the 60-day time limit for sending back the form to your SSA office in Wilkes Barre, PA. Thank you for your prompt response and attention.
eric j.
i am an american citizen, but i am now living in the philippines. i want to apply for ss disability. do i need to file a different type of application for overseas applicants? thanks
R.F.
The application process is the same, Eric. However, we recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefit Unit or U.S. Embassy in their area 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.
Social Security disability benefits are paid to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last one year or more or, end in death. Please keep in mind that in order to be eligible for disability benefits, you had to have worked and paid into the Social Security program, and earned at least 20 quarters of coverage (credits) in the last 10 years. To learn more about insured status requirements, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/ProgData/insured.html.
We hope this information helps!
Thanks.
eric j.
thank you. Can i ask about work credits. 5 years ago my doctor in the USA, reported that I was unable to work due to medical conditions. I was fired any way, but an Administrative Law Judge ruled on my behalf that due to medical conditions, I should have not been fired for not being able to work. I have not been able to work since then, 5 years ago. do my work credits start 5 years ago and back 10 years? Instead of starting now, and back 10 years? I have not been able to work for the last 5 years. Thank you for any help on this. I did not know that I should have filed for disability 5 years ago. Much appreciated. Thanks
R.F.
Hello Eric. In addition to meeting our definition for disability, a person must -also- have “Insured Status” to qualify for disability benefits.
Individuals must have worked long enough–and recently enough–under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI). You must have earned the required number of work credits within a certain period ending with the time you became disabled.
You will have to speak to a Social Security representative for further assistance. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Or visit your local office directly. Thanks!
eric j.
Thank you. i worked full time for 30+ years before becoming disabled, as per my USA doctor. Many work credits. QUESTION: who decides “when: I became “disabled” for work? my doctor said i could not work 5 years ago. i have not worked for the last 5 years. an Administrative Law Judge, ruled for me , that I was wrongfully fired 5 years ago because I could not work. starting 5 years ago, i have plenty of work credits. starting now, I do not have enough work credits. when does the “clock” start on my work credits? thanks for help on this.
Marina B.
I am a US citizen currently living in Australia. In order to create my Social Security account, which mailing address should I use?
Thank you,
R.F.
Hello Marina, 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 Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in their area 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!
Sandy
I get this error message
This site can’t be reached
http://www.socialsecurity.gov server IP address could not be found.
Try running Windows Network Diagnostics.
R.F.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov
Sandeep G.
How do I access my SS statement online as I am unable to load the ssa.gov in the country I live in
R.F.
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 Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in their area, for any assistance related to Social Security services and benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad.
If you would like to receive your Social Security Statement by mail, please print and complete a “Request For Social Security Statement” (Form SSA-7004) and mail it to the address provided on the form. Thanks!
Lorenzo C.
Dear Sir/Madam
I would appreciate it if you could give me another telephone number. The fact is I can’t use the 1-800 number from Mexico..
R.F.
Hello Lorenzo. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in their area 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!
Lorenzo C.
Dear Sir/Madam
I need to know if you have received my ssa form 7162.
I sent it on July 28, 2018, and the USPS prensently indicates that the form is in transit to the Wilkes, Pennsylvania office. I just need to let you know that I sent it within the (60) day time period.
Thanking you in advance for any assistance in this matter.
R.F.
Hello Lorenzo. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot provide you with an answer at this time.
You may want to give it some more time, and then call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for a follow up. 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!
Robert B.
I recently married a Thai citizen this year. She does not have a SSN and I do not think she will be able to get one. She is a school teacher with a valid visa to this country however, when I ask about getting her a SSN number there appears to be a number of barriers which I do not understand. I am retired military and I had tried to get her a ID card so that when she visit America she would be able to use my Tricare if there issues with her health.
I am inquiring about my Social Security and would she be able to receive it once I expire (which I have no plan on doing soon). What do I need to do in order for her to receive my Social Security once I expire. Can you please direct me to someone or web site that can help me.
Thank You
Robert Boyd
R.F.
First of all, thank you for your service, Robert. Generally, individuals must be married for one year before they can get spouse’s benefits. An applicant for surviving spouse benefits must meet a 9 months duration-of-marriage requirement.
Also, we issue three types of Social Security cards. We issue a “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT” card when a person is lawfully admitted to the United States without work authorization, but have a valid non-work reason for needing a Social Security number or need a number because of a federal law requiring a Social Security number to get a benefit or service.
Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Or contact your local Social Security office directly.
We hope this information helps!
Jeannette
If you going to Kingston Jamaica for family as hell and needs me and I have to be there for a couple months so it’s could I still get my Social Security if I let your people know