Social Security income is a big part of the earnings for most Americans, but what if you want to travel or move abroad? Knowing the time limits on being outside of the United States is the key to keeping your benefits. The regulations differ based on your status as a citizen, the nature of the benefits you’re collecting, and the country you are in.
How Social Security interprets “outside the United States”
You are “outside the United States” for Social Security purposes if you are outside of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa for 30 or more consecutive days. This status continues up until you return and stay in the U.S. for a minimum of 30 consecutive days. For noncitizens, you might be required to prove that you were lawfully present in the U.S. for the 30 days.
Time limits for U.S. citizens
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you can normally keep on getting your Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability insurance benefits outside the country without restriction, as long as you’re in an eligible nation. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue to send your payments either into an American bank or directly into an account in a bank in an eligible nation that has an international direct deposit arrangement with the United States.
But remember, the benefits are always calculated in U.S. dollars. Your benefit will not be increased or reduced by the SSA on account of favorable or unfavorable exchange rate fluctuations.
Time limits for non-U.S. citizens
Requirements are stricter for those who are not citizens. Normally, the Social Security Administration does not send payments to people who are non-citizens and have not lived in the U.S. for six consecutive calendar months. When this occurs, benefits do not resume and can’t begin until the person re-enters the country and remains for one calendar month.
There are exceptions to this rule. Residents of some countries may still be paid no matter how long they remain outside the United States. And if you are eligible for an exception based on certain conditions as determined by the SSA, you can be paid without going back to the U.S.
Various types of benefits have various rules
The status of Social Security benefit you receive also determines the effect of living overseas on your payments:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): If you are on SSDI and a U.S. citizen, you can still get benefits while living overseas in a country that is approved. Non-citizens will be held to the six-month rule except in cases where there are exceptions.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI benefits have stricter rules. If you receive SSI, your benefits will be terminated if you are out of the United States for over 30 consecutive days. To restore SSI benefits, you’ll need to return to the U.S. and stay within the country for a minimum of 30 consecutive days.
Restricted countries
Payment for Social Security cannot be awarded to persons living in Cuba or North Korea due to Treasury Department sanctions. U.S. citizens living in these countries can receive all withheld funds when they move to a sanctioned-free country to make payments.
Foreign nationals are not eligible for payments for months spent living in Cuba or North Korea even if they relocate to a sanctioned country.
Restoring benefits after extended absence
If your benefits are cut off because you’ve been away from the U.S. too long, you’ll have to return and be physically in the United States for an entire calendar month to get them back. That’s what’s being done for each hour every day of the month. You’ll also have to report work to the SSA to get your benefits reinstated.
Read more: How do special payments I received after I retired affect my Social Security retirement benefits?
Read more: What is the maximum Social Security retirement benefit payable in 2025?
