People who receive government Retirement, Survivors, or Disability Insurance benefits should be aware that their payments may be disrupted if they leave the country.
The rules differ for US citizens and non-citizens, with the former being able to receive payments outside the US provided they are eligible and live in a nation where the payments can be sent.
Receiving SSI benefits while traveling abroad
If a citizen or legal resident is absent from the United States for 30 days, his or her SSI benefits will be terminated. Once the person has returned in the United States for 30 days, the SSA will resume paying SSI.
Children of military people who get SSI are an exemption. Military children who leave the United States as a result of their parents’ military duty will not have their SSI payments terminated. For purposes of SSI benefits, Puerto Rico is considered outside the country, but the Northern Mariana Islands are considered within the country.
Here are a few points to remember about disability benefits, whether you live abroad, plan to live abroad, or stay in the United States:
- If you are moving within or outside of the country, you should notify the SSA.
- A non-citizen who changes his or her immigration or citizenship status should notify the SSA.
- The SSA considers you to be living outside the country if you are absent from the country for 30 days in a row.
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What about those who are non-citizens?
Noncitizens who spend more than six months outside the nation do not receive Retirement, Survivors, or Disability Insurance payments from the US government.
However, the official Social Security website states that in some situations, persons may be eligible for an exception that allows them to receive benefits even if they do not live in the nation. They have a tool that will tell you if you can obtain benefits outside of the country by answering a few simple questions.
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