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. Narottambhai R.

    Why can’t I change address and bank account details from uk. I did everything getting in touch by phone writing a letter with recorded delivery. I am waiting for this seance October 2018. I am in a residential home. My niece is my power of attorney. I don’t know how to solve this matter. You are my last hope. Please get in touch with my niece. It’s her email address. I need money for payment for residential home.

    Thank you
    Waiting for your reply

    • A.C.

      Hi, Narottambhai. 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.

  2. Alan P.

    why can’t I file a form 7162 report online

    • L.A.

      Alan, thank you for your question. At the moment, we are not able to provide online reporting, of any kind, for beneficiaries living outside the U.S. Please continue to file your reports with your local Federal Benefits Unit for assistance. We hope this helps.

  3. victor e.

    please return a message or phone call.. My name is victor Left messages before no reply..FINANCIAL EMERGENCY 8550 9075 Unblock my online account please

    • A.C.

      Hi, Victor. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If you are still unable to access an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
      •Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
      •Contact your local Social Security office. We hope this is resolved soon.

  4. Mira K.

    My mother-in-law lives in Germany but she is a US citizen. We have recently learned that she does not have enough credits for retirement, but wanted to find out if there is a way to pay into social security living outside of United States?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Mira. Thanks for your question. Your mother-in-law cannot get more credits by voluntarily contributing money to Social Security. She can earn credits only by working in a job or her own business that is covered under Social Security. For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.

  5. Rudi

    Social security asked for my original documents
    when I applied for benefits and they never returned
    them which included my citizenship papers. Show just
    how much social security thinks of us americans that
    live abroad, As a 3yr vietnam vet and 22yrs total
    military service this shows me one part of a govt
    that does not give a damn. Have communicted to them
    many times but no concrete answer.

  6. Barry M.

    Hi… I have been receiving Social security checks here in Costa Rica. I am moving at the end of the month to a different address…and want to change the address to the new address.. I tried opening up a
    “my account” but i dont have a U.S. adddress to give..and it was requested in opening my “my Acct”.. How to register that change¿ thanxs

    • A.C.

      Hi, Barry. To create a personal my Social Security account, you must have a U.S. mailing address. 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.

  7. Danny S.

    Thanks Ann.

    I understand your position. I will call stateside & work w/ them & hopefully, my Congressman to resolve this issue.

    Best wishes!

    Danny

  8. Danny S.

    I sent 2 messages previously re: my concern. In my desperation & frustration, I didnt realize this was a public forum.

    I’m asking your response be directed on my email address as I don’t check this site often to see if a response was made or not, like your reply which I didn’t view unl a few weeks after.

    Thank you your time.

    Best wishes.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Danny. For your security, we do not have access to private information; therefore, we do not do private messaging 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. We hope this helps.

  9. Richard H.

    My wife and I live in Costa Rica and are trying to receive a copy of my SS benefit amount so we can receive our pensionada status, The government here LOST the original letter we submitted.

    The form being asked to be filled out will not accept any information from my computer,

    WE NEED HELP.

    Is it possible for someone from the Embassy here to call us because there is NO way to contact them by phone.

    My number is 506-6480-1484.
    PLEASE RESPOND

    ONE WAY OR ANOTHER

    • A.C.

      Hi, Richard. For your security, we do not have access to private information in the 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.

  10. Daniel M.

    I have relocated to Spain where I have a residency visa. I get SS every month for retirement. Do I need to give you my new address?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Daniel. If you receive benefits from Social Security, you have a legal obligation to report changes, which could affect your eligibility for disability, retirement, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. You must report any changes that may affect your benefits immediately, and no later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred. To get a list of reporting responsibilities while receiving retirement benefits, check out our publication, What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits. 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.

Comments are closed.