If you are a Social Security beneficiary and plan to move out of the United States in 2025, there is very good news for you: you will still be able to receive your monthly payments. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has clarified that it allows its members to cash their checks from abroad, as long as they meet some specific requirements.
Currently, about 760,000 people who collect Social Security reside outside the United States. And if you plan to do so in 2025, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure access to your benefits while living in another country. Likewise, you should know what procedures to follow and what limitations may apply depending on your place of residence.
It should be noted that the SSA qualifies a stay abroad when the beneficiary is not in one of the 50 states and the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) for more than 30 consecutive days. This also includes Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands or American Samoa. “We consider you ‘outside the U.S.’ until you return and stay in the United States of America for at least 30 consecutive days,” they say on their official website.
Requirements to receive Social Security payments outside the U.S.
The SSA set out some conditions for U.S. citizens receiving social benefits to access their monthly checks without problems. According to the Social Security Administration’s official website, to keep payments while living abroad, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Reside in a country where payments are allowed.
The U.S. restricts sending benefits to some countries. The blacklist includes places like Cuba, North Korea and former Soviet republics. In all, there are 9 countries where Social Security payments are completely blocked.
People in these countries will not be able to collect their Social Security payments as long as they remain there. In this situation, the Social Security Administration will withhold payments until you return to the U.S. or another country where they are authorized to make the payments.
To receive SSA checks, beneficiaries are required to complete an annual questionnaire verifying their eligibility. In addition, payments are made directly by bank deposit, which makes it easier to access the money while residing outside the United States.
How do I receive my monthly SSA checks?
The process to receive Social Security payments from abroad is very simple. Don’t know how to do it? Here we explain it in detail. Just follow these steps:
- Register on the My Social Security platform.
- Meet the conditions required since December 1956, if applicable.
- Complete the form that the SSA sends to confirm annual eligibility.
- Provide the necessary information to set up direct deposit.
If you live outside the United States, information about the specific rules affecting Social Security payments is key. Complying with the requirements established by the SSA will ensure smooth access to these benefits. For more information, consult the official platform of the government entity, the corresponding contact numbers, or the My Social Security page.
What to do to avoid losing benefits?
To prevent Social Security from suspending the payment of monthly checks, you must perform some specific procedures. Among the recommendations highlighted by the SSA are:
- Update address: report in a timely manner any change of residence, whether inside or outside the United States.
- Report income changes: report immediately if you start or stop working, or if your income level changes.
- Report family changes: report marriages, divorces or the birth of a child.
- Keep immigration status up to date: changes in citizenship or legal residency must be reported to the SSA.
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