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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Kate R.
how do I set up access to my social security account as a US citizen living in Australia?
A.C.
Thank you for your question, Kate. 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 local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations web page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps!
Lorraine
If I am a US citizen having been born here, got my first full time job at 17 and am 69 now and still working full time, why would I have to worry about not being eligible for benefits after a while if I want to retire to a country that has mild, warm weather 365 days a year?.
cdelima25@aol.com
I have received a Form SSA-7162-OCR-SM (7-2011)
By mistake I filled the form in Blue Ink, however, went over it with Black. Would this suffice or would I need to find in a new one. Could you please let me know where I could obtain this. I am happy to go down to the American Embassy in London to collect it.
Unfortunately, one is not able to call the Social Security department. Also, I do not have a USA No. to call. I will try and find the Baltimore, MD 21235-6401 USA Telephone number, though generally they give you a 1-800 number which I am unable to use from London. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks
Christine de Lima
V.V.
Hi there. Unfortunately, the SSA-7162 is not currently available online and cannot be emailed to you. 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.
Ursula J.
I am trying to call SS in the States from Canada. Can’t find one. The ones I have found tell me not able to call from Canada.
Can you please help me.
Ursula Jurden
A.C.
Hi, Ursula. Since you are living outside of the U.S. you can contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Jeanne M.
I would like to know if I will be receiving Form SSA 7162 this year. Mail to my address is very unreliable and do not wish to be penalized if I don’t receive this form at all. Thank you, JMO
A.C.
Hi, Jeanne. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Since you are living outside of the U.S. you can contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Michael R.
I live in Mexico and was in a motorcycle accident that has left me disabled. Can I collect social security benefits. I have live here for quite a few years and will qualify for regular SS benefits when I turn 66 1/2.
A.C.
Hi, Michael. Since you are living outside of the U.S. you can contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
ANTONIO O.
I am currently receiving S.S.I. so i inquired to see if i could get my retirement, i was told yes but it was lower than what i get now. so i was told that s.s.i. would put in the amount that would bring it up to what i get now. that’s great, so i asked if i moved to Guam or Puerto Rico would i still get the same benefits since i am still in the U.S.A.? told i could get my retirement but not my s.s.i. portion to get the total amount i normally receive? Why is that? i am still in the U.S.A.?
A.C.
Hi, Antonio. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community to continue 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. We hope this helps.
Danny S.
I have a stepchild whom I’m trying to get on my SS Disability dependent benefits. I am currently in the Philippines & have been in touch w/ the US Embassy here in Manila. Initially I was informed them that my step son would have to be a “US Citizen” before he can be eligible to receive benefits. I tried to explain my situation but I understand their position because that’s what they know & thought I’d send a message to the Home-Base and state my case you.
My question is why would the SS Administration impose a requirement that would be impossible to satisfy at the time of application? For a regular green card holder to qualify for a citizenship, they need to be continuously be there in the US for 5 years. So my application for my stepchild is automatically denied…why bother to apply? My rights & other priveledges are w/ me wherever I go I was told but it doesn’t feel like that now.
I am Disabled and unable to work for the rest of my life. This Supplemental Stepchild Benefit under the Disability Act I worked 45 years for is suppose to help me in events of Hardships such as this, I am having a hard time to receive. Totally the opposite of the purpose of the program is being denied, wouldnt you say?
I have been working on this since 2015. First when I thought my stepchild was my biological son but had to retact my application because of a newly found personal info. I didn’t want this to effect my benefits so I withdrew it w/ sadness. Even w/ the new revelation, I treated my kid as if he was my own and provided for him all he needed to grow up to be a responsible person. There are medical treatments and medications I skipped & put-off so I I can provide & didn’t have to if I had this supplemental benefit but I endured & survived the hardship. My disability is Peripheral & Cardiovascular Disease and I need your help to raise a promising young kid. If only the person at the US Embassy advised me that he’s eligible for a stepchild benefit in 2015 interview, then the hardship would not have happened & I would be healthier than I am now.
I have been married twice and never had a child. Now that I know how heavenly it feels to be a father, I realize how much I lost out in that part of life.
I hope you can help me in some way to continue w/ my intention.
Best wishes to all.
Danny S. Olaes
*** – ** – ***
A.C.
Hi, Danny. We are sorry to hear about your situation. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Since you are living outside of the U.S. we ask that you continue to work with your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Danny S.
Hello & thanks for response. I just now read it and honestly, a bit disappointed.
I will continue to work w/ the US Embassy staff re: my venue as suggested.
I have already contacted my Congressman in Texas where I lived prior to moving here in the Philippines & was advised that they aren’t able to take action at this time until a decision has been made.
My concern re: this matter to bluntly say it, is that the information they told me over the phone do not make sense to me as an American Citizen living abroad. It sounds & feels like I am being discriminated & being denied of my right to have & raise a family w/ the requirements desccribed by one of the caseworker here in Manila, as described in my initial message.
As a Disabled SS recipient as you know, I am not able to work to have an additional income to support a family/ kid to have a descent life. This stepchild benefit is available to me and all Disabled recipient in similar situation as a benefit after years of hard work & contributing to the Program. For me and others to have to go thru a needle hole if you’re outside the US, is discriminatory. A child is a child regardless of where they are & have the same needs as kids in the Mainland. If that’s not a form of descrimination, I don’t know what is.
I have an appointment to meet w/ a caseworker on June 24th at the US Embassy in Manila w/ all the documents required at hand per instruction & I don’t anticipate any problem w/ the interview. In an event there is an issue I find problematic, can I turn to your office for assistance? If I sound desperate, I am, please bear w/ me as I am hurting dealing w/ medical, Rx & misc expenses as a Head of Household.
I thank you in advance for your time and understanding re: my present situation.
Best regards.
Danny Olaes
Mrs. J.
I haven’t been receiving any paperwork re my social security widows benefit since 2016.
I moved two and half years ago, to another part of the town and I got one annual statement from you, due to the post office redirecting my mail.
Can you please help me get my annual statement again please?
When you reply I will give you my details.
Mrs Janice Mary Hartley
janicehartley44@gmail.com
Social security number *** – ** – ***
Many thanks
A.C.
Hi, Mrs. Hartley. We are sorry to hear about your experience. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. You can request a replacement SSA-1099/1042S for Tax Year 2018 by visiting your personal my Social Security account. You can also contact or visit your local Social Security office. They can assist with a replacement 1099. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Charles B.
Dear Representative,
I have been trying to call 1-800-772-1213 from Thailand and the recording always says that the office is closed. Today is the 20th of May and the office should be open. I have been trying to login without any luck, either forgot ID or password and I’m locked out. Is there another number I should be using when call from Thailand, if so, please provide me with that number. Thanks for your attention to this matter, Charles Rose
A.C.
Hi, Charles. For assistance outside of the U. S. you can contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.