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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Catherine L.
Can I create account on line if I live in Canada, with residence here only? And can I apply my social security benefits online?
V.V.
Hi Catherine, thank you for your question. At this time you must have a U. S. mailing address to create or access your online account. 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.
Even though you are unable to create a my Social Security account, you may still file your application online. You can apply online for retirement benefits if you:
•are at least 61 years and 9 months old;
•are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record;
•have not already applied for retirement benefits; and
•want your benefits to start no more than 4 months in the future. (We cannot process your application if you apply for benefits more than 4 months in advance.)
We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefit Unit or U.S. embassy in the 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. You can also use the Canadian Service Area Directory to determine which Resident Office is near you. Go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign/canada.htm.
Elizabeth
how to report fraud survival benefit …
LeRoy C.
Good day: I reside in Panama, Republic of Panama for the past 12 years. In Feb. 2019 I did not receive my benefits because my form 7162 was received late and payment was stopped. I immediately submitted the proof f mailing, and resubmitted a new form 7162. My payments were restored on March 3rd 2019 without the February payment due me. I have tried unsuccessfully to contact the FBU services in Costa Rica by phone, e-mail, and Fax and neither of them are functional. Will you be kind enough to forward this message to room 341 East Mountain Dr. Wilkes Barre.
The US Embassy here have referred m to Costa Rica
and their services are non operational. I need my misses payment, as this is my only source of income.
Thank you (my ss# 000-00-2219)
Anjupita V.
Gentle People, Need S.S. United Kingdom contact number. Living in Uganda and need to know how to get my new Medicare Card sent to my Uganda address on file where I currently get all communications. Many thanks, Anjupita Virimo *** – ** – ***
Shawn
Hi Could you please advise (or give a link) about a US citizen who wants to set up an account from abroad or apply for benefits from there.
Assume someone is out of US for a few years and now reaching retirement and wants to set up an account or apply for that. She is in a condition who can not show up in US for a while. Is there any way ?
Thank you
L.A.
We are sorry for the inconvenience, Shawn. 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 the nearest Federal Benefit Unit in your area for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Thanks!
Shi S.
Dear Sir/Madam, I have paid SST for 24 years and worked in China for the past 6 years, where Chinese tax applied. US tax is largely exempted, including SS. I mean I have not paid any SS in the past 6 years. Would that affect my benefits after I retire?
Thanks a lot.
V.V.
Thank you for contacting us Shi Sha. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) can affect how we calculate your retirement or disability benefit. If you work for an employer who doesn’t withhold Social Security taxes from your salary, such as a government agency or an employer in another country, any
retirement or disability pension you get from that work can reduce your Social Security benefits.
Our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers that have worked abroad.
Margaret H.
i need a new card please what does this cost??
Robert
Am I allowed to apply for disability being overseas?
A.C.
Hi, Robert. Thanks for your question. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. We hope this helps.
Gregory S.
I have not got a payment in 3 months
A.C.
Hi, Gregory. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. If you are living outside of the U.S., please contact your local Federal Benefits Unit. We hope this helps.
Hilda T.
252-98-7345A
the payment of benefits was discontinued in January 2019 due to a failure on my part to complete the questionnaire. I will be filing an SSA-561-U2. The social security benefit received is outside of the United States and mailing is an issue. Will it be possible to email my application so that it is received by SSA within the 60day period. If so, what is the email address. Alternatively can I send it via courier so that I may keep track of the applications delivery to your offices. if the previous two options are not acceptable – can I apply for an extension of the 60 day period.