Retiring Abroad? The Social Security Payments Abroad Tool Can Tell You If Your Checks Will Stop

Retiring abroad is often cheaper than living in the U.S., making it an attractive choice for retirees. You can also opt for an area with warmer weather and enjoy a slower pace of life.

But people who retire overseas may be worried about whether they can take their Social Security checks with them. Your citizenship status, retirement location, benefit type and other details determine if Social Security comes with you, and the Social Security Administration has a screening tool that can help.

What the Social Security payments abroad tool does

The Social Security payments abroad tool helps people who want to live outside the U.S. determine if their Social Security payments can continue. It primarily addresses retirement, disability and survivor benefits. This tool does not determine if you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income, special veteran benefits or some adopted-child dependent and survivor benefits.

You will have to provide some key details when using this tool, including your citizenship status, benefit type and the country where you plan to stay upon retiring. This tool is a screener that offers a good gauge, but it’s not an official benefits decision.

Why some Social Security checks stop overseas

Going on a two-week international vacation won’t interrupt your Social Security benefits, but an extended stay may make a difference. Supplemental Security Income is typically not payable once someone is outside of the U.S. for 30 consecutive days or a full calendar month.

Non-U.S. citizens may stop receiving Social Security benefits if they have left the country for six consecutive calendar months, but some exceptions apply. Social Security says that non-U.S. citizens must provide physical proof that they were in the U.S. at one point over the past six calendar months to retain their benefits. An official U.S. government document from the Department of Homeland Security and a payment receipt showing your name, date and location of a purchase in the U.S. are two eligible verification documents.

U.S. citizens typically do not have to worry about losing Social Security benefits as long as they remain citizens and avoid any restricted countries.

What to do before retiring abroad on Social Security

If you are a U.S. citizen, and want to keep your benefits, don’t go to a restricted country. The Social Security Payments Abroad tool can help, but it’s even more important for non-U.S. citizens. Get the results from that tool, print them out and then contact Social Security’s Office of Earnings and International Operations if you want verification or have a complicated situation. A Federal Benefits Unit abroad is another good option.

You will also have to do some logistics work, such as updating your address and setting up a foreign bank account if necessary. You’ll also get a questionnaire from the Social Security Administration every one or two years.

One of the nuances of living abroad is the difference between the U.S. dollar and your new residence’s currency. Any foreign taxes and currency fluctuations can affect the total value of your Social Security check.