Can I Keep My Benefits If I Move Out of the U.S.?

If you are a citizen of the United States and receive Social Security disability payments based on your own work record, you can most likely keep your benefits if you move out of the U.S. However, Social Security Administration (SSA) cannot send benefits to some countries. You may have to work out other arrangements or apply for an exception if you move to one of these countries. 

You may also have to file special reports if you live overseas. If you are only visiting another country and do not leave the United States or one of its territories (U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa) for more than 30 days, there should not be any concern with your Social Security Disability benefits. Our Social Security Disability lawyers in Pittsburgh can ensure you provide all the essential information so that the examiner from the Office of Disability Determination Services (DDS) can access the medical evidence that proves your impairment.

Several Factors Determine If You Can Keep Your SSD Benefits While Living Outside the U.S.

Several factors determine how moving to another country for a month or more can affect your disability benefits. This includes:

• Whether you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Where you move when you leave the U.S. (you can use the Social Security Administration’s payments abroad screening tool to determine whether you can receive payments after moving out of the U.S.)
• How long you remain overseas
• Your citizenship status
• Whose work history you qualify based on

In general, U.S. citizens who move to a country where the Social Security Administration can send payments can continue to receive some types of benefits. This may be different if you:

• Are not a citizen but have legal residency status; or
• Get benefits based on someone else’s work history (i.e., you are a dependent or survivor)

Keeping Social Security Disability Insurance Benefit Payments When You Move Overseas

You can most likely continue to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if:

• You are a citizen; and
• You qualify based on your own record; and
• You live in an approved country; and
• You plan to stay in another country for six months or less
• You may be able to continue drawing benefits beyond the six-month mark. You will need to maintain the proper paperwork and may also need to return to the United States for a regularly scheduled eligibility.

Other Things to Know If You Are Planning to Move Overseas While Receiving SSD Benefits

Here are some things to consider if you plan to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit payments while living outside the United States:

Ensure Your Banking Information and Financial Planning Are Correct

If you are moving to another country where you can receive SSA benefits, you should set up a banking arrangement to ensure you receive your monthly payments. You want to avoid a lapse in benefits. Also, SSDI recipients are responsible for knowing about and meeting their tax responsibilities while living in another country.

Like U.S. residents, U.S. citizens living abroad must pay taxes on all income they receive, including SSDI income. Tax laws aren’t always easy to understand, so seek advice from a tax professional who understands expatriate taxation and other issues.

Keep the SSA Updated on Your Living Situation, Disability Status

If you receive Social Security Disability benefits, you must update the SSA on your living situation if it affects your benefits eligibility. As mentioned previously, you must allow continuing disability reviews. These reviews will determine if your condition supports a continued need for benefits.

Recipients who do not comply with this required review could face a suspension or termination of their benefits. Living overseas can create obstacles in communication, so make sure you anticipate those and work out a plan to deal with them to make sure you meet the SSA’s disability review requirement. 

SSA Cannot Send Disability Payments to Some Countries

You can find a list of countries that accept international direct deposits on the SSA’s International Programs page. Currently, disability payments from the agency are not allowed in the following countries, even to U.S. citizens who relocate to them:

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Cuba
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• North Korea
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan

It is also important to note the following are U.S. territories, so SSDI recipients living in these places can receive SSDI benefits:

• American Samoa
• Guam
• Puerto Rico
• the Northern Mariana Islands
• the U.S. Virgin Islands

Drawing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) While Living in Another Country

In most circumstances, you cannot continue to draw Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if you move outside the United States. You may continue to receive benefits until you are in another country for 30 days, and you can get the Social Security Administration to reinstate your benefits after you have been back in the United States for a full 30 days.

Per the SSA, your eligibility for SSI benefits can resume on the day that follows the 30th day provided that you stay in the U.S. Be sure to let the agency know when you have returned to the United States. You should confirm that the SSA has your current address.

If you have a child who is blind or has a disability, they could be eligible for SSI benefits while outside the U.S. if they are a U.S. citizen and lives with a parent who is serving in the U.S. armed forces who is assigned duty ashore outside the U.S.

Important Note About SSI and Living in a U.S. Territory

If you are receiving SSI and plan to live in a U.S. territory, note that the Northern Mariana Islands includes the United States but not Puerto Rico. Recipients staying in Puerto Rico for 30 days will experience interrupted benefits.

You Could Receive Other Compensation If Someone Else’s Negligence Caused Your Disability

A personal injury lawyer from our law firm can help you find other options for getting the compensation you deserve. If you have a disabling impairment because of an accident injury caused by someone else’s negligence, we may be able to help you build a strong case to support an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

You could recover compensation for economic and non-economic losses, such as:

• Medical bills
• Rehabilitative care (e.g., physical therapy)
• Loss of income and lost or reduced earning ability
• Disability, scarring and/or disfigurement
• Pain and suffering (mental and physical discomfort, including mental anguish and emotional distress)

We will review all of your losses and advise you on your next steps. We can investigate the situation that caused or led to your disability and identify the parties that owe you compensation.

We can also collect medical evidence used to evaluate your disability benefit claim and other documentation as we build your case. If we cannot favorably settle your case with the opposing party, we can sue for damages.

How an SSD Benefits Attorney Can Help Your  Benefits Claims If You Move Away From the U.S.

If you are considering or planning a move away from the U.S., you can still work with a U.S.-based Social Security Disability benefits attorney:

• Navigate complex laws and rules that govern Social Security benefits. An attorney can explain these to you and other matters.
• Comply with the SSA’s reporting requirements for SSD recipients. You can receive counsel from an attorney to ensure you are in good standing with the SSA. This helps you avoid any break in current coverage. They can help you report any changes in your living arrangements, financial status, or health condition.

Talk to a Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Attorney About Your Claim for SSD Benefits

The Pittsburgh Social Security Disability lawyers from Berger and Green will fight for the benefits we believe you deserve based on the facts of your case. Call our team today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we can lead your case without charging upfront attorney fees.