Collection Social Security benefits are sometimes thought to be something only Americans can get, and while some services are only available within the country’s borders, Social Security Administration (SSA) data show that over 760,000 people receive Social Security benefits while living abroad each year.
The regulations governing this are complex and rely on a variety of criteria, but you can generally collect benefits from outside the country.
Social Security benefits outside the US
To find out if you can collect benefits from outside the United States, you must first determine whether you are a citizen. If you are one, the Social Security Administration will consider you “outside the United States” if you are not in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa for at least 30 days in a row.
You can receive benefits from most countries in the globe, with the significant exceptions of Cuba, North Korea, and several former Soviet republics. If you live there, your benefits will be suspended until you relocate to a nation that allows you to receive them.
If you are not a citizen and live abroad, you are bound by the “totalization agreements” between the United States and 30 other countries. These are bilateral agreements with significant trading partners to coordinate Social Security coverage and benefit provisions for people who live and work in multiple countries throughout their careers. They are intended to be reciprocal.
The type of benefit you get will also influence whether or not you are able to collect, as you may be subject to extra residency requirements. For example, in order to receive survivor benefits, you may need to reside permanently in the United States for five years. Some benefit payments may be suspended if you leave the United States for six months or more, but will restart if you return for at least one month.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the only benefit that cannot be claimed outside of the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands. SSI is income-based and was meant that would enhance the lives of the elderly, blind, and crippled. It is considered a supplement to other types of Social Security benefits, such as disability and retirement, both of which can be claimed abroad.
If you collect SSI as a citizen or non-citizen and leave the country for more than 30 days, your payment may be terminated, and you must reapply once you return to US soil.
Information rules you must follow to keep your benefits
While this applies to anyone receiving benefits while in the country, it is particularly vital for those residing abroad, as the SSA’s reach is limited outside of the country. The Social Security Administration sends questionnaires to beneficiaries who live outside the United States to inquire about any changes in status that may affect their benefits, such as receiving more or less.
Some of the changes that must be communicated include updated information about any employment you are doing overseas, marriage, death, divorce, change of address, change of circumstances, and eligibility for a pension not covered by the Social Security program.
If you fail to communicate any of these changes, an inquiry may find that you have been claiming benefits unlawfully, which might have a long-term impact on your benefits.
To avoid complications, do not wait until you receive the survey to disclose any changes; instead, communicate them as they occur, and make it a personal mission to always complete the form by indicating that nothing has changed. This way, you can ensure that all benefits are paid on time and correctly.
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