Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S. | USAGov (2024)

FAQs

Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S. | USAGov? ›

If you leave the U.S., we will stop your benefits the month after the sixth calendar month in a row that you are outside the country. You can make visits to the United States for specific periods of time, depending on how long you've been outside, to continue receiving your benefits.

If you earned Social Security benefits, you can visit or live in most foreign countries and still receive payments. Look up the country on the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool to be sure you can receive your payments.

Luckily, there is no time limit on how long you can live outside the U.S. and still receive monthly Social Security payments. As long as proof of life documents are signed and returned annually, you'll still get paid.

If you already have enough credits under the U.S. Social Security system to qualify for a benefit, we will not count your credits in the other country. If we need to count your foreign work credits, you will receive a partial U.S. benefit based on how long you worked under U.S. Social Security.

Mexico does not tax Social Security income from the US, which is beneficial for American retirees.

Lawfully present noncitizens of the United States who meet all eligibility requirements can qualify for Social Security benefits. This rule also applies to noncitizens authorized to work in the United States who got a Social Security number after December 2003. For more information visit our Immigration page.

The Social Security five-year rule is the time period in which you can file for an expedited reinstatement after your Social Security disability benefits have been terminated completely due to work.

As a general rule, permanent residents should avoid any trips abroad of 6 months or longer. If you travel for over 6 months (but less than a year) at one time, USCIS will automatically presume that you've broken your continuous residence requirement for the purposes of naturalization.

A common concern is the duration of time a U.S. citizen can spend abroad without jeopardizing their citizenship status. While there is no set limit, extended periods of absence, especially when combined with other factors, can trigger inquiries from U.S. authorities.

Absences of more than 365 consecutive days

You must apply for a re-entry permit (Form I-131) before you leave the United States, or your permanent residence status will be considered abandoned. A re-entry permit enables you to be abroad for up to two years. Apply for a re-entry permit.

What countries have a Social Security agreement with the US? ›

There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

Chile is one of the cheapest and safest countries to retire to. It is also one of the countries where you can retire on just social security in 2024, based on its cost of living which is estimated to be around $1,780.

The United States generally considers a person with dual U.S. and foreign citizenship a U.S. citizen for Social Security purposes. This does not apply if you are a U.S. citizen and a citizen of a country the United States has an international social security agreement with.

The winner is Argentina, where seniors can apply for citizenship only after two years of residency. “Argentina's Pensionado visa offers one of the easiest routes for retirees to gain citizenship in this country.

While there is no set limit, extended periods of absence, especially when combined with other factors, can trigger inquiries from U.S. authorities. Factors such as maintaining ties to the United States, filing taxes, and participating in U.S. elections can demonstrate a continued commitment to citizenship.