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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Marie J.
Good day mam/sir;
I just wanna ask about my daughter’s benefits her benefit starts on january this year the problem is we didn’t get the first cheque you send it to us by mail for we are living outside the country and were still waiting for it to arrive but we already report it to the american embassy here in the Phillipines and we were told that they gonna cancel it and issue another one for that month and we were lucky we got the second payment , we just like to inform you about what happen with the first payment!we already send the direct deposit form to the american embassy here in the phillipines!
Thank you for assisting us!
Kenny O.
Hello Marie Jane. Unfortunately, your request is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to information about your daughters account in this venue. We urge you to continue working with your local embassy or consulate office. You can find their contact information, including an email address, on our Office of International Operations page. Hope this helps!
Rali P.
I am a US Citizen living in India. I will be 62 in July 2017. I have the necessary credits to be eligible for Social Security benefits. I have received the estimated benefit statement from Social Security office about a year ago.
I understand I will get reduced benefits if I apply before my full retirement age. It is OK with me and I do want to apply for my Social Security Benefits now so that I can begin to receive social security when I turn 62.
Questions:
1. I am a shareholder in 2 private companies in India and one private company in US. I do not actually do any work for them and not do I receive any income from them. Does this mean I cannot apply for Social Security Benefits until I reach 66 years?
2. If I sell all my shares in the Indian companies but continue to be a shareholder in the US company, will I qualify for applying for Social Security benefits?
Thank you
Rali Panchanatham
Ray F.
Thank you for your question Rali. There may be specific questions that may arise in connection with claims involving individuals who are shareholders in a corporation and its operation. In your situation, and for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits, please contact the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, which services the area where you are living. This link includes the U.S. Embassy email address. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.
Julia N.
I want to know if i am outside of the country, if i have to prensent taxes every year? if there are a special form for that or i dont have to present and pay taxes every year?
Im not sure if i write correctly in english what i want to say. i will try in spanish.
Lo que quiero saber es si siendo jubilada y viviendo fuera del pais debo presentar declaracion de renta todos los años y si es asi donde puedo ver el formulario. y saber si debo algo.
Ray F.
Hi Julia. Some people have to pay federal income taxes on their Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you have other substantial income (such as wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other taxable income that must be reported on your tax return) in addition to your benefits. For further income tax questions, you will need to contact the IRS. Remember for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits, please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate. For information in Spanish, please visit us at http://www.segurosocial.gov or http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial. Thanks!
JACK S.
My mom is on Social Security and what makes the current Administration Donald Trump and Mike Pence and Paul Ryan thinking they’re doing by taking trying to take Social Security Medicare and Medicaid away they should be ashamed of themselves for lion on the campaign Trail saying I hope I will not get rid of Social Security Medicare Medicaid we will trying to find a solution to pay into it to keep it around Donald Trump lied I think Paul Ryan should be ashamed of yourself cuz he does not care about the American people or what they want future retirees and retirees at this point rely on Social Security children rely on social security for benefits if they take it away that be tens of thousands of Americans outside of the United States and also in the United States that will be no coverage whatsoever for them nursing homes hospitals will go busted the industry would be closed and water people will be hungry and homeless because it won’t be there for their houses or apartments or place to live Paul Ryan is an idiot Donald Trump is a loser and Mike Pence is removed as well as the other two the Trump supporters put his hand over and jam if this happens we will be screwed financially in this country will be ruined Beyond repair I hope to God that it doesn’t happen
Gerald
I live outside the USA and the Social Security site wilnot let me register without a USA address. What should I do?
Ray F.
Hi Gerald, we are sorry for the inconvenience. You’re right, at this time you must have a U. S. mailing address to create or to access your online account. 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. Please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.
joe w.
Well, fix this stupid error. Those of us outside the u.s. need access even more. Typical gov. blunder!
Serena
My mom just had her Social Security benefits suspended without any notification. She lives in the U.K and had received benefits for the past 3 years. How can this be rectified? Need a little help!
Ray F.
Hi Serena. For assistance related to her Social Security benefits, your mother should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Thanks.
Glenn H.
Why is it that just because I’m living outside of the states (The Netherlands) and a US Citizen, that I am unable to create an account on “my Social Security” page? When trying to make an account It states that I must have a stateside address and telephone number which I don’t have. (I took a European Out when I left the Army back in ’83 and both parent’s are deceased).
Ray F.
We apologize for the inconvenience Mr. Hill and appreciate you trying to use our online services. At this time you must have a U. S. mailing address to create or to access your online account. 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. Please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps!
Glenn H.
Thank you very much for you response Ray. Much appreciated.
I do , however, have just one more question that hopefully you can answer.
Is the benefit’s paid out in US$ or in the currency denomination of the country in which I am living? If it’s the latter, then what about currency conversion fee(s). Who’s responsible for that. Me or the SSA? If it’s me, then instead of having my benefit’s paid out to a local bank here in The Netherlands, can I instead have them paid out to bank there in the States, such as Payoneer (I already have an account with them), for which I already have a MasterCard Debit card? That way I wouldn’t have to pay any currency conversion charge’s?
Again, thank you for your support and I hope to see you reply soonest.
😉
Ray F.
hi Glenn. International Direct Deposit (IDD) for some countries is in U.S. dollars. Other countries included in multinational contracts that receive IDD in local currency, deposits are transmitted to the processing banks, where the exchange rate is established. We ask our customers living abroad to contact their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to their Social Security benefits. This link includes the U.S. Embassy email address and their telephone number. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.
Carol E.
I, too, am disabled. I worked hard, got into an Ivy League college, worked my way through school and became an architect. My husband and I started our own business and paid Social Security Self Employment Tax every year on time. Then my neck was injured and it became completely disabling because I had spent so many years bending over a drafting board. I tried to keep working but lost my hand coordination.
Finally got SSDI. It was a relief but my husband and I still had to refinance our house and take the maximum amount out to cover the medical bills and insurance premiums that had increased to $2800/month. Our baby was only 17 months old and I could not care for him and clean the house and do grocery shopping so we had to hire a full time nanny/housekeeper so my husband could work. No matter how many hours he worked we had to put the mortgage on credit cards. After $87,000 in debt we had to declare bankruptcy.
I would have helped out but I couldn’t use my arms. I learned to pick things up off the floor and turn off light switches with my feet.
After about 8 years my neck was better so I went back to school to learn Spanish with plans to become a court translator. Was accepted to a translation school with very very strict requirements and did well in the program. I lived and breathed translation staying up all night to finish my projects. But when we reached the part where you have to translate the 3 sentences at a time, I was experiencing memory lapses.
At that point I realized I could not do court translation so I decided to get my credential to teach English to Spanish speaking people. Took more classes, passed the test to get a teaching credential but was having trouble walking to my linguistics class. Went to a neurologist and was immediately diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Still determined to start teaching, I ended up spending the next 6 months out of the hospital and my doctor told me I had a very serious case of it. That’s when my husband broke down in tears and told me he had just lost his job. He found another job at half the salary so we did everything we could to save money. Sold things on the Internet, canceled cable, started eating less, had no money to help our son go to college. He went to medical school but cannot make enough money to make his student loan payments. Our brilliant president from 2000-2008 gutted financial aid for students and made student loans private with high interest while students were going to school. So our son now owes $240,000. He can’t even get married or buy a house so he could never help me.
So here I am with nothing, no retirement and not enough to live on. My Social Security payment never goes up anymore, battling MS and facing the horror of a new administration that is determined to make the rich richer and the poor can die (they are just lazy bums).
I still live in the US where I was born but I want to leave. I really want to leave. That’s why I read everyone’s posts., That’s why I am on this blog.
Bernie is right. It’s time for a revolution. We need to overthrow this administration and start redistributing the wealth. Whatever it takes. That is why we have the right to bear arms. Time to form a militia and get them OUT!!!
Allan H.
There is still Hope in the future.. You can apply for the Fed Grant Carol..
Socorro
hello,
I would like to inquire on how long am I allowed to stay outside the US and still continue to receive my SSA.
Thank you in advance.
Ray F.
If you are outside the United States and receiving Title II Social Security benefits, see “Social Security Payments Outside the United States” for information on how your payments may be affected. Thanks!
Mark V.
Hi,
I’m an American citizen and was working steadily in the U.S. from 1982 until 2009. I have been living and working abroad as a U.S. Resident in South Korea since 2009. I have not paid any Social Security tax since I stopped working in 2009. I used to receive yearly statements from Social Security; telling me how much I had accumulated in benefits and how much I could expect to get in monthly retirement benefits if I waited until the age of 71.
My question is, do I still have accumulated SS benefits under my name even if I am not currently earning a U.S. based income? What happens if I decide to come back to the U.S. and start working again? Will my SS contributions be added to what I already had deducted over the previous 27 years or will I have forfeited anything I accumulated and have to start from scratch?
Ray F.
Thank you for your question Mark. Your work credits stay on your record when you stop working and paying Social Security taxes. If you return to work later on, you can add more credits to your record. In your case, you can print a “Request for Social Security Statement” and mail it to the address provided in the form. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.