In some cases, your Social Security disability payments may be continued if you are abroad. If you are only visiting another country for less than 30 days, or if you remain in a U.S. territory, you will continue to receive your Social Security disability like normal.
In circumstances where you will remain abroad longer, such as if you move out of the U.S., or if you visit certain countries, there may be rules against continuing to receive your disability check each month. Most people, however, can continue receiving benefits as usual as long as they complete the right paperwork and follow the instructions provided by the Social Security Administration.
Factors Determining If You Can Continue to Receive Disability Payments Abroad
The rules for continuing to receive disability benefits are different for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
For SSDI, the Social Security Administration will likely continue your checks when you are abroad if:
- You are a U.S. citizen; and
- You qualify for disability based on your own work record; and
- You live in an approved country; and
- You plan to stay in that country (or another approved) country for six months or less
Even if you stay abroad for more than six months, you may be eligible to continue receiving your disability payments. You will need to complete paperwork and the Social Security Administration may ask you to come back to the United States to review your eligibility in person.
For SSI, it is not possible to continue drawing benefits while you live abroad. The Social Security Administration will not continue your check if you are in another country. Once you are outside the United States or one of the territories for 30 days, your benefits will stop. Once you return to the United States and remain in the country for at least 30 days, you can request your benefits again.
Disability Payments Cannot Be Sent to Some Countries
While the United States has special agreements with some countries, there are other countries where the agency cannot send payments. If you visit Cuba or North Korea for more than 30 days, the Social Security Administration will hold your payments until you return to the United States or to another country where the agency can continue payments.
The Social Security Administration cannot send payments if you are in the following countries unless you meet special eligibility requirements:
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
The Social Security Administration provides an online tool to find out more about getting your benefits while abroad. Enter your information online to ensure you will continue receiving benefits.
In addition to contesting a disruption in your disability, we may also be able to pursue other options for compensation. If your qualifying impairment occurred in an accident, we may be able to pursue a personal injury case on your behalf. Let us investigate your case, prove negligence and liability, and build a strong case to support a payout.
Call Berger and Green for Help With Your Disability Today
If you receive Social Security disability payments and plan to travel abroad for more than 30 days, it’s important to consider how this may affect your disability benefits. In many cases, you will just need to complete specific paperwork and the Social Security Administration will mail your payments to you in another country. However, this is not always true.
Call or text our Pittsburgh office today at 412-661-1400 to get started.
