Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal government program intended to help those who are disabled and no longer able to work due to their condition. While most SSDI beneficiaries live within the United States, some may wonder whether it’s possible to collect SSDI benefits while living in another country.
Yes, it is possible to collect SSDI while living in another country. But the country you move to, or visit should be one to which the Social Security Administration (SSA) are able to send benefit payments to. Furthermore, in some cases, your stay in another country cannot extend beyond 30 days.
Keep reading below as we describe these conditions in more detail.
Can You Collect SSDI and Live in Another Country?
Social Security Disability benefits are available to any U.S. citizen, regardless of location, assuming they meet the other SSDI eligibility requirements. You can use the SSA’s International Programs page to see if you are eligible to receive payments outside the United States. However, the SSA may be unable to deliver benefit checks to certain countries, and payments cannot be made to a third party.
Suppose you leave the United States or any of its protectorates (such as Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.) for more than 30 days at a time. In that case, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider your time spent there to be permanent residency rather than merely a visit.
If your stay will last 30 days or more, you must notify the Social Security Administration of your status change and provide them with your new contact information.
This rule has a few exemptions, but you’ll need to check in with the local U.S. consulate or embassy to see how and if you qualify. Remember that one of the requirements to get an exemption is agreeing to get your benefit checks every month from the U.S. embassy or consulate in person.
The rules for collecting benefits as a dependent or survivor are different from those for receiving benefits as the primary applicant.
You may keep receiving your SSDI payments as long as you have not lived outside the U.S. for more than 6 months and have not moved to the prohibited countries. Once again, though, this rule will have certain exceptions.
Social Security Disability benefits are not available to anyone living in North Korea or Cuba. This rule does not have any exemptions attached to it.
It’s also worth noting that if your benefits are withheld due to international regulations while abroad, you can still access them when you return.
You might not get them right away, but if you leave the restricted country, you will eventually receive them. It goes without saying that you must always keep the SSA informed of your current location.
If you are receiving SSA benefits, but are currently living abroad, you will also receive periodic questionnaires from the agency. If you do not fill out and submit the questionnaires within the allotted period, your benefit payments will be stopped.
Keep in mind that living outside the United States may alter other aspects of the program, such as:
- How you receive your benefits.
- How you update the Social Security Administration or send them paperwork.
It may be challenging to make sense of international social security rules on your own. Before confirming your plans to relocate, you may want to discuss the facts with your Social Security advocate, attorney, or disability counselor.
Keeping Your SSDI Benefits After Leaving the United States
Keeping Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income after leaving the United States is based on your meeting specific criteria.
How long will a person with a disability be allowed to remain outside the country? You are not allowed to spend more than 30 days outside the country. You will need to reapply for disability benefits after you return to the United States if you have been away for 31 days or more.
Could Social Security Disability Insurance recipients visit another country? Yes, they can but if those countries fall under the list of SSDI-approved countries.
It’s worth noting that there are some exceptions to these laws if you receive a certain type of benefit or meet a certain exemption requirement. Retirement disability benefits, disability benefits for military veterans, and public assistance programs for the disabled all fall into this broad category.
If you need additional information regarding these exceptions, you can get in touch with the Social Security Administration.
What Countries Are SSDI Prohibited?
Disability payments from the United States could be continued under certain international agreements. However, there are some nations where the agency cannot process payments. Let’s say you want to spend more than 30 days in Cuba or North Korea. If that’s the case, your Social Security payments will be put on hold until you come back to the United States or somewhere else where the Social Security Administration is legally able to continue them.
Payments from the Social Security Administration cannot be sent to those located in the following countries unless they meet additional criteria:
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan Moldova
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
You can use the Social Security Administration’s online site to research how to continue receiving your benefits from a foreign country. To make sure you keep receiving benefits, enter your information on the International Programs page.
Should I Inform Social Security of My International Travel?
Yes, let’s say you’re getting help from the government in the form of SSI or SSDI (Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance). If this is the case, you must inform the SSA of any planned international travel. This applies to vacations of any length.
This information includes details like how long you’ll be gone, where you’ll be going, and when you expect to return. If you are receiving SSI and will be gone for more than 30 days, you are required to inform the Social Security Administration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you may receive Social Security Disability insurance benefits while living abroad as long as the conditions are met. Due to the complexity of disability benefits and leaving the country, it is strongly recommended that you consult with a Social Security Administration representative before making any decisions.
