How Are Social Security Benefits Affected During International Travel?

During long periods of international travel or residence, any social security payments you receive for a disability or medical condition may be affected. Internationally, your benefit payments through the SSA depend on:

• Where you travel
• If you are a dual-citizen in your country of travel and the U.S.
• How long you stay abroad
• If you are receiving payments as a dependent or surviving family
• Changes in living circumstances, work or family (marriage, children, etc.)

If you plan on traveling outside of the U.S. for an extended period, or are currently/planning on becoming a citizen of another country, use this blog as a quick guide for receiving SSDI benefits abroad.

Where You Travel and How Long You Stay

For receiving disability benefits while abroad, much of your eligibility is determined by where you travel and how long you stay there, whether as a visitor or resident. If you have been left the U.S. (and it’s affiliated territories) for more than 30 days, the SSA will consider you as outside of the country. You will not recover your status as “inside” the U.S. until you have spent an equal 30 days within the country.

If you are a United States citizen, you will continue to receive benefits as you normally would during this time, no matter how long you stay or where you travel. However, despite this eligibility, there are some countries and territories that the SSA cannot send benefit payments. This includes:

One exception for these countries is, while residing within their borders as a U.S. citizen, that you appear in person once each month at the country’s U.S. Embassy. During travel to Cuba or North Korea, your benefits will be withheld until you travel to a country that the SSA can send payments.

International Citizenship and Dependent Status

Receiving disability benefits outside of the U.S. becomes more complex when international citizenship and dependent status are involved. If you are a dual-citizen, you will continue to receive your SSDI benefits as normal, no matter what other country you are a citizen of. If you are a citizen of any of the following countries, you will continue to receive benefits as you normally would, given that you remain eligible:

If you receive SSDI payments as a dependent or surviving family member in any of the following countries, you will not be eligible for payments through social security:

Note: This list does not include all countries in which this applies. For a complete list, read the SSA’s guide to international SSDI, “Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States.”

International Living Circumstances and Your Benefits

In addition to where you travel and your citizenship status, any changes to living arrangement or family can affect your payments. To continue receiving your full SSDI payment amount, you must report any and all changes to the following to the SSA:

• Marriage, divorce or annulment
• Child adoption
• Child leaving your care or the care of a spouse
• Child near age 18 becoming disabled or a full-time student
• Change of address
• Change of parental circumstances
• Deportation or removal from the U.S.
• Significant change in monthly wages
• Change in working status
• Work pension eligibility not covered by social security

Exceptions for International Eligibility

Even if you do not qualify for disability benefits abroad under any of the previous circumstances, there are some exceptions that guarantee you continue to receive benefits outside of the U.S. If you are not a citizen of any qualifying countries above or of the U.S., you may continue to receive social security benefits if:

• You are a resident in a country the U.S. has a social security agreement with. This includes Australia, Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Ireland and U.K.
• You are currently serving abroad in the U.S. military or Navy
• You were eligible for monthly benefits in December 1956
• You are receiving benefits as a dependent for someone who has died during active U.S. military service, or as a result of disability acquired during service

For more information on how disability benefits are affected during international travel or residence, don’t hesitate to talk with a trained disability expert.