Benefits Planner: Retirement | Work Outside The United States (2024)

FAQs

How long can you live outside the US and still collect Social Security? ›

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.

Social Security Disability Insurance

If you are not a US citizen, but a citizen of another country or have other legal resident status, your benefits may stop if you are outside the US for more than six months.

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.

The lifetime maximum benefit is $50,000. These policies will not pay benefits if you live or travel outside the United States for longer than 60 days. If you have retiree coverage, check with your benefits administrator to find out if you have coverage outside the United States.

Key Takeaways

U.S. retirees can receive Social Security benefits while living abroad, with some exceptions. There is no time limit on how long a person can live outside the country and receive benefits. Foreign citizens with a U.S. work history may also qualify for Social Security benefits under certain agreements.

Americans who retire overseas still have tax obligations. Typically, you will have to file a tax return with both the US government and your new host country. You may even have to file a tax return with the US state you used to live in.

For some, the main appeal of retirement abroad may be a lower overall cost of living. While retirement abroad requires careful planning about visas, and taxes, staying in the U.S. could mean managing higher costs of living and expensive health care.

There is no age at which you will no longer be taxed on Social Security payments. So, if those payments when combined with your other forms of income, exceed one of the two thresholds, then you will have to pay at least federal taxes on either 50% or 85% of the benefits you receive.

What is the 5 year rule for Social Security? ›

You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five of the last 10 years. If you also get a pension from a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (e.g., a civil service or teacher's pension), your Social Security benefit might be reduced.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments outside the U.S. as long as you are eligible for them. However, there are certain countries to which we are not allowed to send payments.

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? 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's special minimum benefit pays at least $49.40 per month in 2023 and $50.90 in 2024. Social Security's special minimum benefit tops out at $1,033.50 per month in 2023 and $1,066.50 in 2024. You'll receive 100% of the benefit if you file at full retirement age or later.

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.

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.