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. Carter W.

    A question:

    I presently employ a Nicaraguan citizen. At some point she will be forced to return to Nicaragua. I am trying to determine if she will be eligible to receive SS benefits on retirement in eight years (assuming no changes of law) and given that she will not be able to return.

    Short list Facts:

    – Arrived in the US without a visa in 1996.
    – Received TPS and a TPS work permit in @1999.
    – Currently 57 years of age.
    – Not currently a beneficiary of SS.
    – Has already earned (and paid all taxes owed) in excess of $2000 for at least 40 quarters.
    – Will return to Nicaragua if her TPS ends.

    Assumptions:
    – Will be required to return to Nicaragua before or after claiming SS benefits.
    – Will be unable to return to the United States if she is required return to Nicaragua.
    – Will apply for benefits (either here or in Nicaragua) in eight years at age 65.

    Question: Will the putative beneficiary be required to return to the U.S. from Nicaragua at regular intervals to continue receipt of SS benefits. As a Nicaraguan citizen, it seems she would not need to return. However, that conclusion is not 100% clear from the various online IRS publications I have read.

  2. Lissel V.

    My husband and I are receiving Social Security benefits while residing outside the U.S. We live in a city that doesn’t have a post office. It is difficult for us to return Form OMB 0960-0049 to report are home address. It takes at least two weeks for a registered document to reach the U.S. Is there anyway that this form can be faxed. We can still send the paper copy of the form but at least you will receive this in a timely fashion.

  3. Elsie n.

    I have been living in Puerto Rico since 1969. I am now receiving social security. But now I moved to Florida. I heard that once I move to anywhere in the state I could be receiving a higher social security. It’s that true?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Elsie. 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. We hope this helps.

  4. Jonas

    I’m spanish, and i have my ESTA authorization, can i apply for a Job? Thanks.

  5. Zildalva S.

    Hi my husband passed away on May 4, 2019, and I sent to Comerica Bank all information,. his name Emad K. Geris, but up to now, they did not answer me.
    He has more than 40 K, in his saving account, what I should do to transfer his saving to my account in Florida, Bank of America, 1900, Tyler st, Hollywood. I need your help because I am in Rio de Janeiro Brasil. thank you .
    I am Zildalva Salgado American Cityzen in Brasil but I can come anytime to America.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Zildalva. We are sorry to hear about your loss. For your security do not have access to information about your husband’s account in this venue. We can only advise you in regards to your husband’s Direct Express debit card. To discuss the activity on his account you’ll need to continue contacting his financial institution. Please contact Direct Express Customer Service at 1-888-741-1115. If that’s the number you already called, and you are still having problems, you can log into his card account at https://www.usdirectexpress.com/ or you can call the Direct Express card toll free Customer Service Department number on the back of his card. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope your situation is resolved soon!

  6. James M.

    I live in the Philippines and my roommate told me that I received a form SSA-7162-OCR-SM just like I have every year. I have always mailed those forms back but this year until Sept. 15th I am visiting family in the U.S. I will try going to the Rockville, MD SSA office this am but I would like advise as to how to resolve this while I am here – in case I do not get waited on this morning in Rockville, MD SSA office. Thank you.
    James Madden SSN: *** – ** – ***

    • James M.

      From the previous post – Can I take care of this form SSA-7162-OCR-SM on line?
      Thank you,
      James Madden

  7. MRS. S.

    I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN RESIDING IN INDIA AFTER MY HUSBAND’S DEATH. I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THE SSA-7162-OCR-SM FORM EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, SINCE MY BENEFITS STARTED, MY POST. BUT THIS YEAR I HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT YET. IF I DON’T FILL UP THE FORM AND RETURN IT ON TIME, MY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS CHEQUE MIGHT STOP. WHAT DO I DO?

  8. Roberto M.

    Good afternoon
    I lived in U.S. for ten years as a legal resident (green card) from 1978 to 1987 but since then I have been living overseas (Brazil). After all these years I still have my Social Security Card with me and would like to check my social security numbers status to find out if I have the right to any benefit at all. In order to do that, as far as I know, I have to create an account in the “my Social Security” but one of the requirements is to have a valid U.S. emailing address which I don’t have for the reason that I don’t leave in the U.S. anymore.
    My question is: Is there another way to find out if my Social Security number is still valid and if I do have the right to any benefit?
    Best regards

    Roberto Michelson.
    Social Security *** – ** – ***

    • A.C.

      Hi, Roberto. Thank you for your question. 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.

  9. RAMON A.

    Good morning , did not recieve my direct deposit due today

    • A.C.

      Hi, Ramon. If you do not receive your electronic payment on the scheduled pay date, please contact your bank or financial institution first. They may be experiencing a delay in posting your payment. If you still need to report a late, missing, or stolen Social Security payment, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. Thanks.

  10. PHILLIP L.

    If I move to Australia to live with my Aussie wife, and I am currently receiving SS benefits, will those benefits be effected?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Phillip. Thanks for your question. If you are a U. S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security benefits outside the United States as long as you are eligible, no matter how long you stay outside the United States. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, SSI will usually stop if you leave the United States for a full calendar month, 30 consecutive days or more. There are certain countries, however, to which we cannot send payments. For more information about your payments while you are outside of the United States, please visit here. We hope this helps.

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