U.S. citizens
If you are a U.S. citizen and eligible for retirement, survivor, family, or disability benefits, you can generally receive your payments while living in most other countries, with no limit on how long you can stay. You still need to follow SSA's reporting rules.
Countries with restrictions
- Cuba and North Korea: Treasury sanctions block payments to anyone living there. A U.S. citizen can receive the withheld payments once they move to another country where SSA can send them. Non-citizens cannot receive payments for the months they lived in these countries.
- Other countries (such as parts of the former Soviet Union): additional conditions apply, and SSA may not be able to send payments. Check the list on ssa.gov/international.
Non-citizens
If you are not a U.S. citizen, SSA generally stops your payments after you have been outside the United States for six full calendar months, and restarts them after you return and stay for a full month. Exceptions apply, for example for citizens of certain countries that have agreements with the U.S., and for people with sufficient U.S. work credits. Use SSA's Payments Abroad Screening Tool to check your situation.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is different. SSI payments generally stop if you are outside the United States for 30 consecutive days.
Medicare abroad
Medicare rarely covers care outside the U.S. See Medicare and travel abroad. Medicare Part B premiums are still deducted from your benefit if you keep Part B.
What to do before you move
- Tell SSA your new address and set up direct deposit to a U.S. or eligible foreign account. See direct deposit.
- Check the Payments Abroad Screening Tool if you are not a U.S. citizen.
- Respond to SSA's questionnaires, which are sent to people abroad.
- Understand U.S. tax rules: benefits paid to non-citizens living abroad may have a portion withheld for U.S. tax unless a treaty applies. See taxes on benefits.