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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Jacek M.
How do I set up for my retirement money to be deposited to a bank in Poland as I will be moving soon. In order to have Medical Insurance Equivalent to Medicare I need the money to be deposited directly there.
Cindy
Hello my husband was fully favorable in June but we are currently living in west Africa and everything was sent to U.K. London payment center in August can you tell me how long do we wait for our funds
R.F.
Hi Cindy. The length of time it takes to begin receiving payments after receiving a favorable decision in a hearing varies. Approved claims are randomly selected for a quality assurance review of the decision. For security reasons, we do not have access to information about your husband’s account in this venue. Keep in mind that all Social Security beneficiaries living outside the U.S. are required to report their change of address. Your husband should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Thanks.
USPS C.
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Najat S.
I need help, If I am on Social security disability SSDI, and will be going temporarily to New Zealand, can I still receive my benefits as usual in my US bank?
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Najat. You may still be eligible to continue to receive your payments outside the United States. However, all Social Security beneficiaries living outside the U.S. are required to report their change of address, even if we are sending their payments to a bank or other financial institution. Failure to report your new address may result in an overpayment or suspension of benefits. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to one of our agents for further assistance, or visit your local office.
Holly L.
If I wanted to move outside the USA would I still keep receiving my SS
R.F.
Thank you for your question Holly. If you’re a U.S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible and you reside in a country where we can send payments. Non (U.S.) citizens must meet certain conditions to receive their payments outside the United States. You can use our Payments Abroad Screening Tool to find out if you can receive your Social Security benefits if you are outside the United States or are planning to go outside the United States. Also, our publication titled “Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States” can provide additional information.
Rosie
I immigrated to Canada from the States when I was 41. I plan to start drawing early Social Security retirement benefits when I turn 62 in two years. I know that to keep my benefits, I can’t work more than 45 hours a month, which is fine. However, I’m self-employed, which means I don’t have an employer issuing pay stubs. What kind of documentation will the Social Security folks want to see to ensure that I’m not working more than 45 hours a month?
R.F.
Hi Rosie, you can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, there are some restrictions as to how much you can make, depending in your age. Please see What happens if I work and get Social Security retirement benefits and read our publication How Works Affect Your Benefits for more information. You will be required to report your work activity directly to your local Social Security office. We ask our customers living abroad to contact their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to their Social Security benefits. We hope this information helps.
Cheryl
Hi, I am a U.S Citizen that has been living and working in Canada for the past 10 years, I pay Canadian Taxes and also send in my U.S. Taxes (that usually come to 0 amount). My Canadian husband and I are planning on retiring in the U.S. I have worked in the U.S. for over 30 years until I married him and moved to Canada. Will I receive full U.S. benefits when I retire? or will they be a lower amount due to getting some benefits from Canada.
R.F.
Thanks for your questions, Cheryl. If you work outside the United States, different rules may apply in determining if you can get your benefit checks. The United States has bilateral Social Security agreements with 26 countries, including a Totalization Agreement with Canada. These agreements improve benefit protection for workers who have divided their careers between the United States and another country. For assistance related to your Social Security benefits, please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. In your case, you can also use the Canadian Service Area Directory to determine which Resident Office is near you. We hope this helps!
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Sweet P.
I just wanted to ask how will i continue my payments because im graduating this year at senior high school, and i want to go to college but i know that my payments will stop when i finish my senior high school this 2018. I would like to study college but how can i go to college if we don’t have the payments to pay my tuition. Im from Philippines thanks!
R.F.
Normally, benefits for children stop when children reach age 18, unless they are disabled. However, if the child is still a full-time student at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, Social Security benefits can continue until the child graduates or until two months after the child becomes age 19, whichever is first. If the child is a U. S. citizen, they may receive Social Security benefits outside the United States as long as they are eligible. At one time, SSA did pay benefits to college students, but the law changed in 1981. We now pay benefits only to students taking courses at grade 12 or below.
Divine G.
hi my dad worked in US and a pensioner now. He is non citizen but a greencard holder. Can he take home his pension back here in Philippines? Thank u?
R.F.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page to learn more about Social Security benefits and non-citizens. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their local U.S. embassy or consulate 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 information helps.