According to the Social Security Administration, you may continue to receive retirement payments while outside the United States. Of course, as long as you are eligible for a payment, you are a United States citizen and you move to a country where the SSA can issue payments.
The Agency cannot send Social Security payments to all the countries in the world because there are some restrictions. But what about non-citizens? If you are in this situation, you will need to meet one of the requirements the Administration has established.
Social Security explains what “outside the United States” means
The Agency refers to the term “outside the U.S.” to refer that you are not living in one of the 50 States, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia for a minimum of 30 days in a row.
As a matter of fact, the Social Security Administration will consider that you are no longer outside of the United States when you return and stay in the U.S. for a minimum of 30 days in a row.
Bear in mind that if you are not a United States citizen, you also may have to prove you were lawfully present in the United States for 30 consecutive days. If you are not a U.S. citizen and do not meet one of the conditions, your Social Security payments will stop after 6 full calendar months outside the U.S.
Which countries have Social Security agreements with the USA?
Currently, there are many countries that have a Social Security agreement with the United States. However, there could be updates so check it before you move there.
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Korea (South)
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovak Republic
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Uruguay
