Most U.S. citizens can get Social Security benefits while visiting or living outside the U.S. Find out if you qualify, how to apply, and who to contact to get help.
LAST UPDATED: January 8, 2024
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FAQs
If you leave the U.S., we will stop your benefits the month after the sixth calendar month in a row that you are outside the country. You can make visits to the United States for specific periods of time, depending on how long you've been outside, to continue receiving your benefits.
How long can you live outside the U.S. and still collect Social Security? ›
If you are not a U.S. citizen or you do not meet one of the conditions for continued payments, we will stop your payments after you have been outside the U.S. for 6 full calendar months. Once this happens, we cannot start your payments again until you come back and stay in the U.S. for a full calendar month.
Can a non U.S. resident receive Social Security benefits? ›
Lawfully present noncitizens of the United States who meet all eligibility requirements can qualify for Social Security benefits. This rule also applies to noncitizens authorized to work in the United States who got a Social Security number after December 2003.
What is the 5 year rule for Social Security? ›
You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five of the last 10 years. If you also get a pension from a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (e.g., a civil service or teacher's pension), your Social Security benefit might be reduced.
Can I create a Social Security account if I live abroad? ›
Now, individuals without a U.S. mailing address can create a personal my Social Security account and use the online services with an ID.me credential. If you don't already have an ID.me credential: Go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
How long can I stay abroad without losing my SSI benefits? ›
Except for certain students temporarily abroad for study purposes or a child of military parents stationed overseas, an individual is not eligible for SSI benefits for any month during all of which he or she has been outside the U.S. Once an individual has been outside the U.S. for 30 consecutive days or longer, he or ...
Does dual citizenship affect Social Security benefits? ›
The United States generally considers a person with dual U.S. and foreign citizenship a U.S. citizen for Social Security purposes. This does not apply if you are a U.S. citizen and a citizen of a country the United States has an international social security agreement with.
How long can a US citizen stay outside of us? ›
US citizens can live outside the country for as long as they wish — even for the rest of their lives — without a problem. A US citizen cannot be prevented from re-entering the US. You can stay out of the USA for as long as you'd like. You can renew passport as needed at the local US embassy or consulate.
What countries have a Social Security agreement with the US? ›
Country List 3
Canada | Ireland | Slovenia |
Chile | Italy | Spain |
Czech Republic | Japan | Sweden |
Denmark | Korea (South) | Switzerland |
Finland | Luxembourg | United Kingdom |
6 more rows
How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›
Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.
Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.
When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine? ›
In many cases, a surviving spouse can begin receiving 1 benefit at a reduced rate and allow the other benefit amount to increase. If you will also receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign work, your Social Security benefits as a survivor may be affected.
Can you live outside U.S. and collect Social Security? ›
If you are a U.S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments outside the U.S. as long as you are eligible for them. However, there are certain countries to which we are not allowed to send payments.
Are Social Security benefits taxed if you live abroad? ›
Generally, if you are a U.S. person, you are subject to U.S. income tax filing requirements and your worldwide income is subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you live. SSA will not withhold tax from your benefits if you are a U.S. person.
How long can you go abroad on benefits? ›
You can continue to get Universal Credit for up to 6 months if: you go abroad for medical treatment. you go abroad for a period of recovery that's been approved by a medical professional (also known as 'approved convalescence')
How long can a retired US citizen stay out of the country? ›
There is no time limit on how long a person can live outside the country and receive benefits. Foreign citizens with a U.S. work history may also qualify for Social Security benefits under certain agreements. Social Security payments can be deposited directly into a foreign bank account.
How does Social Security know if I leave the country? ›
USCIS extracts information from USCIS Forms I-131 (Application for Travel Document) and I-157 (Notice of Removal) and sends it to SSA. The system compares the information with account numbers on the supplemental security record (SSR) and, if there are any matches, sends an alert to the FO for development.
How long can you live outside the USA? ›
While there is no specific time limit, staying outside the United States for an extended period can have consequences. If you remain outside the United States for over a year without getting a re-entry permit or returning to the country, you may lose your permanent resident status.