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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William T.
I am a social security retirement benefit recipient, currently living in the Philippines where the mail system is very poor. I recently, just today, received a Second Request dated October 4, 2019, to complete and return within 45 days; date of receipt of notice from the Philippine postal system was November 20, 2019 (already beyond the 45-day limit. And the original form was not received.
I think your mailing of form SSA 7162 is by regular mail, and hence part of the problem for receipt and return of this form, especially for recipients living in the Philippines.
I have completed the form (Second Request), and will now messenger it to you, but am sure it will not be received within the time limit set by SSA. Is there any way I can sent via fax to a SSA toll free number or a proper number for receipt of this form?
*** **** ***, DOB ****, ****
Rosa
My question is why people live this country reviving a retirement moving overseas then retire overseas again now they getting 2 retirements how legal is that when we have a hard time paying our bills here
JOSE D.
HI MY NAME IS JOSE DE JESUS RUIZ I’M IM MEXICO AND I NEED TO TALK TO A PERSON AT SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE AND I NEED A NON 800 OR 888 FREE NUMBER.
L.A.
Hi José. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Since you live outside of the U.S., please contact your local Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for assistance with Social Security benefits matters. We hope this helps!
Freddie L.
My child is turning 18 and I’m not going to be the custodian of her money anymore. We received a letter that said all savings from that money must be sent back to social security. We have been saving a portion of her check to give her as a birthday present for her 18th. If we send the money from the savings account back, will it be sent to her, or will the government keep it?????
A.C.
Hi, Freddie. 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.
Robert W.
I receive SS Benefits, I reside in Germany, but am an US citizen, I’m trying to find out how and to whom I pay the taxes on my benefits. There’s supposed to be some sort of dual-state agreement with certain foreighn countries, concerning the income tax payments. Can you help?
A.C.
Hi, Robert. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. 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.
mario d.
hi my nephews live now in uruguay,both are usa citizens so i will like to know if they can recibe help from SSA here . they are having a tough time.thank you
Michael
I had received the annual SSA Form 7162 for the past two years; however, I haven’t received the first nor the second notice of the form this year. I currently reside in the Philippines, so I’m supposed to get the form every year. My foreign street mailing address hasn’t changed, so I’m wondering why I haven’t received the form. I would rather not get a notice of benefit suspension by the end of this year, so should I just fill out a blank form and send it to SSA office at Wilkes Barre?
L.A.
Hi Michael. Unfortunately, but for your security, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. Please contact your local Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for assistance. We hope this helps.
Mithun@visathingforstudent
There are many US citizens are living in our country (Bangladesh). And our government always provide extra security to them.
Barbara G.
I live in Italy and am trying to sign up for a Social Security account. I do not have a US address but have permission to use that of my niece in New York. However, upon entering this address on the first page, the program does not allow me to continue.
L.A.
Hi, Barbara. We’re sorry for any inconvenience. You will need your own U.S. address to register for a personal my Social Security account. 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 home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps
Arturo s.
My husband want to know when translated is old tin number credit work to new social security card number when in office in April 10,2019 have no letter
L.A.
Hi Arturo. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to personal information in this forum. To speak with a representative about your specific question(s) please call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), from Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You may also contact the local Social Security office. We hope this helps.