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. Glenn H.

    Good morning from here in The Netherlands. I’m trying to find a way to change my email address. When I applied for and started receiving retirement benefits I had a different email address than I have not (change of providers) and I would like to have my email address changed to my current one. Since I live here in Europe, I’m not allowed to have an account on “my Social Security”, and seeing how I’m not allowed to call a toll-free number there in the states, making a normal call to you would cost me too much money. So…please tell me how I can go about changing my email address online, or sms, or some other way. All help appreciated because it’s quite frustrating not knowing hoe to contact you people from here in Europe. Kindest Regards.

  2. Sastry P.

    My co-brother a US citizen passed away in India recently. He stayed in US for 22 years and moved back to India with family ( also US citizens) four years back. Will family get any benefits ( both children are minors)? Informed his death to US consulate in India and received consular report of Death. Awaiting your reply.

  3. Jane

    Thank you for replying so promptly, Ann. I will do all those things and thank you for referring this to the Operations Staff. Jane

  4. Jane

    I am living in Australia and have been receiving Survivor Benefits for 3 years. The amount was suddenly severely reduced 6 months ago due to WEP although I have had no “windfall” – no other pension, no annuity, no new husband, nothing…I have sent 4 letters to Baltimore and to Manila including an appeal. I have called my case worker in the Philippines but the hours have now been cut to 2 mornings a week and none of my 24 attempts today alone were answered. It is a very muddled situation not knowing whether I have to deal with the office in Baltimore or the office in Manila. I have emailed. I have left messages. There has been no response. It is a nightmare. Can you tell me who to contact? Thank you.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Jane. We are sorry to hear about your experience. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community to continue to work with our offices with questions about their specific case. For assistance outside of the U.S., contact your local Federal Benefits Unit. We have referred your concerns to our Operations Staff for follow up and to take corrective action as necessary. We appreciate your feedback and thank you for bringing this to our attention. If you wish to submit feedback related to your experience, visit our Contact Social Security page.Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email a Question to our Support Team” form, where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this is resolved soon.

  5. Jane B.

    I would like to know how to notify Social Security that I have changed my address. I live in the UK so can’t open a Social Security Account, as a valid US address is required. Anyone got any ideas?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Jane. For your security, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. We do ask that members in our Blog community continue to work with our offices with questions about their specific case. For assistance outside of the U.S., please contact your local Federal Benefits Unit. We hope this helps.

  6. Ricardo

    My grandmother left immediately to Mexico due to a family emergency. We are not sure when she will return. What are the next steps to ensure there are no problems with the SS office regarding her benefits?

    • R.F.

      Hello Ricardo. Individuals receiving benefits from Social Security, have a legal obligation to report changes, which could affect their eligibility for disability, retirement, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Changes must be reported immediately, and no later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred.
      Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog. 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!

  7. Mrs C.

    dear sir
    i live in England i am trying to inform you of his death
    which happened on the 12th October 2018 and has been getting a pension could you please inform me of how we can contact and stop his payments and what will
    happen to his wife
    thank you daughter of the deceased

  8. George F.

    Is there an international coverage program for Medicare if yes what countries are in the program

    Regards
    George Faddoul

  9. Cee W.

    If you decide to move to ANOTHER state Within the U.S. does your current SSI Disability travel as well?

  10. Calechia N.

    If you decide to move to ANOTHER state Within the U.S. does your current SSI Disability travel as well?

Comments are closed.