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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Tommy
If social security will no longer be around will payrole deductions still be taken from my pay check if not then get rid of it
Ricky A.
hi there going to file for early retirement but live in sweden and have so for 13 yrs now. im not sure how this works and where im trying to fill out form and it says usa address and how i say what im making Money wise im on disability and recieve about 1000 dallors a month . need hellp
thank you
A.C.
Hi, Ricky. 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.
Peter
URGENT
Hi, I have changed my bank to which you deposit my ‘Old Age/Seniority Pension’ from the United States’. I live in Australia and need to know how to inform you before next payment, due early January 2020.
Best regards
Peter
A.C.
Hi, Peter. We apologize for the delayed response. If you still need assistance, 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 L.
how can I open a my social security account if I’m living abroad?
A.C.
Hi, Antonio. We’re sorry for any inconvenience. You will need a U.S. address to create a personal my Social Security account. 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.
HILLIARD E.
I have been trying to sign up for online service, but since I live outside the US, it won’t let me. I even tried using a US address, but nothing works. I don’t understand why, if I pay over 20,000.00 per year in self employment tax, I can’t sign up like any other citizen that lives in the US. Please don’t tell me to go to the embassy either. I want to be able to consult my information online, like any other US citizen. Please help me sign up…!!!
L.A.
Hi Hilliard. At this time, you must have a U.S. mailing address to create or access your online account, and the IP address from were you are connecting has to be within the US. 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. If you are living outside the United States, you can contact your nearest Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for assistance with Social Security questions. For information on Social Security benefit payments outside of the U.S., please see our publication titled “Your Payment While You Are Outside the United States.” We hope this information helps.
Frank B.
I was contacted by telephone this morning indicating that I was experiencing a problem with my SSA as a retiree who lives in Ontario Canada. I am wondering if the telephone call I received was phishing for information or identify theft. Hence, this email to SSA. The last four digits of my US Social Security number are:****. Please advise if there are issues with my SSA payments or contact information in Canada. Thank you,
L.A.
Hi Frank. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. Also, we ask members of this forum not to post any personal information, for your safety. We hope this helps.
Mike M.
Hello:
I did not receive my normal SS check in November which typically arrives the last week of each month. I am now in Mexico and can not reach SS by phone since international rates apply and, typically, that means I could pay a ton of money for just waiting to be connected. I sent one message already today. When Might I expect to hear back. As you might imagine, this is VERY important to me since I depend on that money to survive.
A.C.
Hi, Mike. If you still need assistance and are 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.
Chad W.
Can I move outside the U.S. give up my citizenship here and get my social security money when I go, or when I reach the appropriate age?
L.A.
Hi Chad. It may be possible for you to receive the Social Security benefits, even if you give up your U.S. citizenship. Please read our publication titled “Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States.” We hope this helps.
Dean T.
My spouse is a New Zealand citizen who worked and lived in the US for 24 years. Currently residing in New Zealand. No longer a Green Card holder. Throughout that time she and her employees paid FICA taxes. As she is approaching retirement we have received information that she will not be able to receive her SS payments due to her nationality. Why are New Zealand citizens affected in this manner? I know an Australian citizen who lived in the US for years and lives in New Zealand who receives Us SS payment. She at 65 can take a portion of her New Zealand SS equivalent and move back to the USA. Can this rule be changed? Thank you. .
L.A.
Hi Dean. Please note that for your wife’s security, we do not have access to her personal information in this venue. Please contact your local Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for assistance. We hope this helps.