How to Receive Social Security Benefits – Living Outside the U.S.

Thinking about living abroad or retiring in another country? You might be wondering if you can still receive your Social Security benefits while living outside the U.S. The short answer is: yes, in most cases you can. But there are a few things you need to know to make sure you stay eligible and keep getting paid without interruption. Let’s break it down step by step.

Eligibility

Before making any big moves, you’ll need to check if your benefits can continue in the country you plan to live in. While most U.S. citizens can receive Social Security benefits abroad, some countries come with restrictions.

The Payments Abroad Screening Tool from the SSA helps you figure out whether your retirement, survivor, or disability benefits can be paid while you’re overseas. Depending on the country, your payments might:

• Continue with no problem
• Stop after six months
• Be restricted due to U.S. laws

If you’re planning to live in places like Cuba or North Korea, for example, you won’t be able to receive payments while residing there. On the other hand, many popular retirement spots—like Portugal, Mexico, and the Philippines—are good to go.

Agreements

Worried you don’t have enough U.S. work credits to qualify for benefits? If you worked abroad, you’re not out of luck. The U.S. has totalization agreements with more than 25 countries. These agreements allow you to combine your work credits from both the U.S. and another country to meet eligibility requirements for retirement or disability benefits.

Here’s a snapshot of countries with totalization agreements:

Country	Totalization Agreement
Canada	Yes
Germany	Yes
United Kingdom	Yes
Australia	Yes
Japan	Yes

This means if you split your working years between two countries, you might still qualify for benefits even if you don’t meet the U.S. minimum alone.

Application

You don’t need to be in the U.S. to apply for Social Security benefits. In fact, applying from abroad is easier than ever. You can submit your application online through the SSA website.

When it comes to receiving payments, the SSA uses electronic direct deposit, which is available through:

• A U.S. bank
• A bank in a country with a direct deposit agreement

SSA allows international direct deposits in many countries, making it simple to access your money in local currency.

Make sure to check if your destination country is on the SSA’s approved list for international direct deposits. This helps avoid delays or issues with your payments.

Monitoring

Once you start receiving benefits abroad, the SSA doesn’t just set it and forget it. Every one to two years, they’ll mail you a questionnaire to confirm you’re still eligible for benefits.

This form checks for changes in your living situation, marital status, or work. Not responding to this form could result in your payments being stopped—so don’t ignore it when it shows up.

To make sure you get it, keep your contact and mailing info up to date with the SSA.

Assistance

Need help applying, checking eligibility, or updating your details? If you’re in the U.S., visit or call your local Social Security office. But if you’re overseas, your main point of contact is the Office of Earnings and International Operations (OEIO).

You can also get help from U.S. embassies or consulates that host Federal Benefits Units (FBUs). These offices specialize in helping Americans living abroad with their Social Security matters.

Whether you’re planning to retire on a beach or just moving closer to family overseas, these services are there to support you every step of the way.

Living abroad doesn’t mean you have to give up your Social Security benefits. With the right information, tools, and a bit of planning, you can continue receiving payments while enjoying life in another country. Just make sure you stay on top of eligibility checks, answer questionnaires, and know who to contact if something goes wrong.

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