A new tool from the Social Security Administration (SSA) will make it easier for many American people to get their benefits in practically every overseas nation. It should be evident that you are still eligible to receive your Social Security payments regardless of whether you now reside in the United States or have chosen to travel abroad for various reasons.
There are a few exceptions to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) goal of paying beneficiaries all across the world. Currently, SSA payments cannot be made to nations with whom the United States has diplomatic links or to those with financial systems that impose restrictions.
Fortunately, people now have an easy way to find out if they are eligible to receive Social Security payments in their nation by using the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool. With the use of this tool, you can determine if your retirement, disability, or survivor’s benefits will last forever, cease after six consecutive calendar months, or are subject to limitations specific to your nation.
Bear in mind that you can still be eligible to receive Social Security payments if you are a citizen or lawful resident of the United States and you live overseas. To keep getting your benefits while residing outside of the US, you must fulfill a few requirements.
Requirements to receive Social Security payments while living abroad
In general, if certain requirements are met, you can continue to receive your Social Security payments even though you are living outside of the US:
- Eligibility: you have to be an American citizen and qualify for Social Security payments.
- Country restrictions: due to regulatory or banking constraints, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is unable to send payments to some nations.
- Exceptions for certain groups: if you do not hold US citizenship, you might be eligible for an exception that would let you get payments abroad, provided certain requirements are met.
Handle your Social Security payments from outside the United States
Applications for Social Security payments can be done online if you are a non-US citizen. The Social Security Administration pays Social Security payments online or via direct deposit. Any banking institution in the United States or any country that has an international direct deposit agreement with the United States can set up direct deposit. Obtain a list of nations and regions that permit payments by direct deposit.
Every one to two years after you start getting Social Security payment abroad, the SSA will send you a questionnaire. This questionnaire will determine whether you are still eligible for benefits. However, if you do not respond, SSA may stop your benefit payments.
How can you use work credits from another country to qualify for Social Security?
The United States has coordinated its Social Security program with similar programs in other nations since the late 1970s by establishing a network of bilateral agreements.
You might not have enough Social Security credits if you worked outside of the United States to be eligible for retirement or disability payments from Social Security. However, your work credits from another nation can be accepted. Here is a list of the countries that have a retirement benefit agreement with the United States:
- Italy
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Norway
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Sweden
- Spain
- France
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Austria
- Finland
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Greece
- South Korea
- Chile
- Australia
- Japan
- Denmark
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Slovak Republic
- Hungary
- Brazil
- Uruguay
- Slovenia
- Iceland
Social Security payments abroad are subject to restrictions and limitations
Do not forget to verify your eligibility with the “SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool” and take advantage of the SSA available materials for comprehensive details on prerequisites, direct deposit choices, and any tax ramifications. Also, maintain communication with the SSA regularly to avoid delays or revocations of your Social Security payments, as they may require updates throughout the process.