Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S.

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://script.crazyegg.com" crossorigin> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com" crossorigin> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://www.usa.gov/es/beneficios-seguro-social-extranjero" data-type="altlang" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad" data-type="conlang" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad" /> <title>Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S. | USAGov</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/ajax-progress.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/align.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/autocomplete-loading.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/fieldgroup.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/container-inline.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/clearfix.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/details.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/hidden.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/item-list.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/js.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/nowrap.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/position-container.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/progress.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/reset-appearance.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/resize.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/sticky-header.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-counter.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-report-counters.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/system-status-report-general-info.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/tabledrag.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/tablesort.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/system/css/components/tree-child.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/core/modules/views/css/views.module.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/uswds_paragraph_components/modules/uswds_paragraph_components_cards/css/uswds-paragraph-components-cards.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/paragraphs/css/paragraphs.unpublished.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/custom/usa_admin_styles/css/usa_admin_styles.css?snbqot" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/themes/custom/usagov/css/styles.css?snbqot" /> <script id="taxonomy-data"> dataLayer = [{ "nodeID": "108", "language": "en", "homepageTest": "not_homepage", "basicPagesubType": "Standard Page", "contentType": "basic_page", "Page_Type": "Content Page", "Taxonomy_Text_1": "Home", "Taxonomy_Text_2": "Government benefits", "Taxonomy_Text_3": "Social Security", "Taxonomy_Text_4": "Social Security benefits abroad", "Taxonomy_Text_5": "Social Security benefits abroad", "Taxonomy_Text_6": "Social Security benefits abroad", "Taxonomy_URL_1": "/", "Taxonomy_URL_2": "/benefits", "Taxonomy_URL_3": "/social-security", "Taxonomy_URL_4": "/social-security-abroad", "Taxonomy_URL_5": "/social-security-abroad", "Taxonomy_URL_6": "/social-security-abroad", "hasBenefitCategory": true, "benefitCategories": "Retirement and seniors" }]; </script>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-W8LW6DB');</script>  <meta name="description" content="If you get Social Security benefits, you can still receive payments while you visit or live in most foreign countries. Learn more." />  <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/usagov/images/Favicon_USAGov.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/themes/custom/usagov/images/Favicon_USAGov.png">  <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad" /> <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S. | USAGov" /> <meta property="og:description" content="If you get Social Security benefits, you can still receive payments while you visit or live in most foreign countries. Learn more." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.usa.gov/themes/custom/usagov/images/Logo_USAGov.png" /> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://www.usa.gov/themes/custom/usagov/images/Logo_USAGov.png" /> <meta name="referrer" content="no-referrer-when-downgrade" />  <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "url": "https://usa.gov/", "logo": "https://www.usa.gov/themes/custom/usagov/images/Logo_USAGov.png" } </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Learn if you can collect Social Security benefits while living outside the U.S.", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "<p>If you earned Social Security benefits, you can visit or live in most foreign countries and still receive payments. <a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/international/payments_outsideUS.html\">Look up the country on the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool</a> to be sure you can receive your payments.</p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Use work credits from another country to qualify for Social Security", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "<p>If you worked outside the U.S., you may not have enough Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security retirement or disability benefits. But you may be able to count your work credits from another country.</p><p><a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/international/agreements_overview.html\">See if the country you have worked in has a retirement benefit agreement with the United States.</a></p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Apply for and manage your Social Security benefits from outside the U.S.", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "<p>If you live outside the U.S., you can <a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/apply\">apply for Social Security benefits online.</a></p><p>SSA pays Social Security benefits electronically through direct deposit. You can set up direct deposit through a financial institution in the U.S. or any country which has an international direct deposit agreement with the U.S. <a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/international/countrylist6.htm\">Get a list of countries and territories that allow direct deposit payments.</a></p><p>Once you begin receiving Social Security benefits abroad, SSA will send you a questionnaire every 1 to 2 years. This questionnaire will determine if you are still eligible for benefits. If you do not respond, SSA may stop your benefit payments. Learn more about these questionnaires on <a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf\">page 21 of SSA鈥檚 publication Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States [PDF, 317KB].</a></p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Get help with your Social Security benefits while you are outside the U.S.", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "<p>For help with your application or benefits you are currently receiving, <a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/\">contact the Social Security Administration鈥檚 Office of Earnings International Operations (OEIO).</a></p>" } } ] } </script> </head> <body>  <noscript><iframe title="GTM" sandbox src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-W8LW6DB" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <a href="#skip-to-h1" class="usa-skipnav usa-sr-only focusable"> Skip to main content </a> <div class="usa-overlay"></div> <header class="usa-header usa-header--extended" id="header"> <div class="usa-banner-inner"> <div> <section class="usa-banner" aria-label="An official website of the United States government" id="usagov-banner"> <div class="usa-accordion"> <div class="usa-banner__header" role="banner"> <div class="usa-banner__inner"> <div class="grid-col-auto"> <img aria-hidden="true" class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="/themes/custom/usagov/images/favicon-57.png" alt="U.S Flag" /> </div> <div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto"> <p class="usa-banner__header-text"> An official website of the United States government </p> <p class="usa-banner__header-action usa-banner__header-action-mobile">Here's how you know</p> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="16" class="usa-banner_expand_arrow usa-banner__header-action"> <path d="M0 0h24v24H0z" fill="none"/> <path d="M16.59 8.59L12 13.17 7.41 8.59 6 10l6 6 6-6z"/> </svg> </div> <button type="button" class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default"> <span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here's how you know</span> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="16" class="usa-banner_expand_arrow usa-banner__button-text"> <path d="M0 0h24v24H0z" fill="none"/> <path d="M16.59 8.59L12 13.17 7.41 8.59 6 10l6 6 6-6z"/> </svg> </button> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg"> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/themes/custom/usagov/assets/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" alt="" aria-hidden="true" /> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br /> A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. </p> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/themes/custom/usagov/assets/img/icon-https.svg" alt="" aria-hidden="true" /> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br /> A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default" focusable="false"> <title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title> <desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc> <path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z" /> </svg> </span> ) or <strong>https://</strong> means you鈥檝e safely connected to the .gov website. 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id="block-usagov-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <div class="content-wrapper"> <div class="usa-prose"> <p class="usa-intro"> Most U.S. citizens can get Social Security benefits while visiting or living outside the U.S. Find out if you qualify, how to apply, and who to contact to get help. </p> </div> <div class="usa-prose body-copy"><h2><strong>Learn if you can collect Social Security benefits while living outside the U.S.</strong></h2><p>If you earned Social Security benefits, you can visit or live in most foreign countries and still receive payments. <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/international/payments_outsideUS.html">Look up the country on the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool</a> to be sure you can receive your payments.</p><h2><strong>Use work credits from another country to qualify for Social Security</strong></h2><p>If you worked outside the U.S., you may not have enough Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security retirement or disability benefits. But you may be able to count your work credits from another country.</p><p><a href="https://www.ssa.gov/international/agreements_overview.html">See if the country you have worked in has a retirement benefit agreement with the United States.</a></p><h2><strong>Apply for and manage your Social Security benefits from outside the U.S.</strong></h2><p>If you live outside the U.S., you can <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/apply">apply for Social Security benefits online.</a></p><p>SSA pays Social Security benefits electronically through direct deposit. You can set up direct deposit through a financial institution in the U.S. or any country which has an international direct deposit agreement with the U.S. <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/international/countrylist6.htm">Get a list of countries and territories that allow direct deposit payments.</a></p><p>Once you begin receiving Social Security benefits abroad, SSA will send you a questionnaire every 1 to 2 years. This questionnaire will determine if you are still eligible for benefits. If you do not respond, SSA may stop your benefit payments. Learn more about these questionnaires on <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf">page 21 of SSA鈥檚 publication Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States [PDF, 317KB].</a></p><h2><strong>Get help with your Social Security benefits while you are outside the U.S.</strong></h2><p>For help with your application or benefits you are currently receiving, <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/">contact the Social Security Administration鈥檚 Office of Earnings International Operations (OEIO).</a></p></div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container settings-tray-editable block block-views block-views-blockwizard-step-test-block-1" id="block-views-block-wizard-step-test-block-1" data-drupal-settingstray="editable"> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-1c8df69e6bbb724394192b0e41c36c9256297213110e8526d1c226f9e954062e"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="additional_body_info"> <p id="last-updated">LAST UPDATED: November 19, 2024 </p> <div id="sm-share"> <span id="share-page">SHARE THIS PAGE:</span> <div class="share-icons"> <a aria-labelledby="share-page fb" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad&v=3"> <div class="share-icon-div"> <img class="share-icon" id="fb" src="/themes/custom/usagov/images/social-media-icons/Facebook_Icon.svg" alt="Facebook"/> </div> </a> <a aria-labelledby="share-page twr" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=webclient&text=https://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad"> <div class="share-icon-div"> <img class="share-icon" id="twr" src="/themes/custom/usagov/images/social-media-icons/X_Twitter_Icon.svg " alt="X Twitter USAGov"/> </div> </a> <a aria-labelledby="share-page em" href="mailto:?subject=https://www.usa.gov/social-security-abroad"> <div class="share-icon-div"> <img class="share-icon" id="em" src="/themes/custom/usagov/images/social-media-icons/Email_Icon.svg" alt="Email"/> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="border-top-05 border-base-lightest"></div> <div id="question-box"> <div class="border-left-1 padding-left-205 border-cyan-10 margin-top-8 margin-bottom-9 padding-bottom-2"> <h2 class="font-family-heading margin-top-0"> Have a question? </h2> <p>Ask a real person any government-related question for free. 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Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S. | USAGov