Many people wonder, “Can you collect Social Security disability and live abroad?” The rules can be complicated, and eligibility may depend on where you live and your citizenship status, as well as other factors.
In this article, we break down what you need to know about receiving SSDI while overseas, including which countries allow payments, reporting requirements, tax rules, and special agreements that may affect your benefits.
Get the benefits you earned.
Key Takeaways
- Most U.S. citizens can receive SSDI while living abroad if they remain eligible and live in a country where the SSA allows payments, but some countries restrict or prohibit benefits, making it important to review SSA rules before relocating.
- If you are not a U.S. citizen, SSDI payments may stop after six months abroad unless you meet specific SSA exceptions or qualify under a totalization agreement.
- Living abroad doesn’t eliminate reporting, tax, or healthcare responsibilities. SSDI recipients overseas must still report major life changes to the SSA, respond to eligibility questionnaires, and comply with U.S. tax laws.
In this article covering the question “can you collect Social Security disability and live abroad”:
Can you collect Social Security disability and live abroad?
Generally, most U.S. citizens can receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits while living outside the United States, as long as two conditions are met:
- First, you must be eligible for SSDI
- Second, you must live in a country where the U.S. is permitted to send payments
If you’re a citizen of another country but have paid into U.S. Social Security, you may still qualify to receive SSDI benefits, even if you live abroad long-term or become a citizen of another country.
Receiving SSDI payments abroad
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you can generally keep receiving SSDI benefits while living abroad, as long as you’re in a country where the SSA is allowed to send payments. This includes all countries aside from those listed under the “countries with restrictions” section below.
For those who are no longer a U.S. citizen, the SSA generally cannot pay retirement, survivors, or disability benefits after the sixth full calendar month spent outside the United States.
The SSA considers you “outside the U.S.” if you have been away from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa for 30 consecutive days or more.
How to keep your benefits as a non-citizen
If you’re no longer a U.S. citizen, but still want to keep your benefits, you must meet the following requirements:
- Continue to be eligible for SSDI benefits, AND
- Live in a country where the SSA can send payments, AND
- Receive benefits based on your own work record of railroad work that the Social Security program treated as covered employment, OR
- Be an active U.S. military or naval service member, OR
- Receive benefits based on the record of a worker who died while serving in the U.S. military (or from a service-connected disability) and who was not dishonorably discharged, OR
- Be a dependent living in one of the countries that has a totalization agreement with the U.S.
Below is a list of countries you can become a citizen of and can continue receiving U.S. Social Security payments, as long as you remain eligible for benefits:
| Austria | Finland | Ireland | Netherlands | Spain |
| Belgium | France | Israel | Norway | Sweden |
| Brazil | Germany | Italy | Poland | Switzerland |
| Canada | Greece | Japan | Portugal | United Kingdom |
| Chile | Hungary | South Korea | Slovak Republic | Uruguay |
| Czech Republic | Iceland | Luxembourg | Slovenia |
For more detailed information about Social Security payments outside the U.S., you can use the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Payments Abroad Screening Tool. It can help you determine whether your payments will continue indefinitely, stop after six months, or be subject to certain restrictions.
As with those living in the US, you’ll need to report any major changes to your health, finances, family, or living arrangements to the SSA in order to maintain benefit eligibility.
For more information about the conditions you must meet to continue receiving SSDI benefits, click here.
Countries with restrictions
Unfortunately, there are certain countries where Social Security cannot send SSDI benefits under any circumstances. According to the SSA, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is prohibited from making payments to people living in Cuba or North Korea.
If you are a U.S. citizen residing in either of these countries, your benefits will be withheld, but you can collect all withheld payments once you return to the United States or move to a country where payments are permitted.
However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you can’t receive payments for the months spent living in either Cuba or North Korea.
The SSA also restricts payments to several other countries, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
In some cases, the SSA may grant exceptions for certain eligible people in these countries, but you must agree to special conditions to receive your payments. To learn whether you qualify, contact Social Security or your local Federal Benefits Unit.
Can I accumulate SSDI work credits in another country?
Since the late 1970s, the United States has signed “totalization agreements” with about 30 countries. These agreements allow the SSA to combine your U.S. work credits with credits earned in another country to help you qualify for benefits.
Totalization agreements serve two main purposes:
- Avoiding double taxation: Workers who split their careers between two countries don’t have to pay Social Security taxes to both at the same time
- Filling gaps in coverage: Workers who divide their time between the U.S. and another country can still qualify for benefits
These agreements have been common in Europe for decades and now cover both traditional employees and self-employed workers, ensuring cross-border Social Security protection.
Additional information
If you live in the United States and want to apply for benefits from the United States or an Agreement country, you can:
- Visit or write to any U.S. Social Security office
- Call by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (1-800-325-0778) if you are deaf or hard of hearing)
- Fill out a SSA-2490-BK (Application for Benefits Under a U.S. International Social Security Agreement) and mail it to your local SSA office
This checklist provides additional details and the documents you’ll need to apply for U.S. disability benefits.
If you receive SSDI benefits outside the U.S., the SSA will send you a questionnaire every one to two years to confirm your continued eligibility. It’s essential to complete, sign, date, and return these forms promptly, as failing to do so could delay or stop your benefits until the SSA receives your response.
In addition, U.S. citizens and permanent residents are subject to U.S. income tax laws no matter where they live, meaning up to 85% of SSDI benefits may be taxable. Non-U.S. citizens generally have 30% withheld from 85% of their benefits, though totalization agreements with certain countries, such as Canada, Egypt, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Romania, and the United Kingdom, can reduce or eliminate this tax.
Finally, Medicare typically does not cover medical care outside the United States, so if you plan to live abroad long-term, it may not be cost-effective to pay premiums while away. However, delaying enrollment can result in additional premiums.
How Woods & Woods can help
Having a disability shouldn’t mean losing your peace of mind. At Woods & Woods, we help individuals with disabilities connect with legal help. If you’re seeking SSDI benefits, call us today for a free case evaluation.
You worked hard – let us fight for you.
Frequently asked questions
You can live abroad and collect Social Security disability benefits if you’re eligible for SSDI and live in a country where payments are allowed. Some countries have restrictions, so always check SSA rules before moving.
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you can collect Social Security disability and live abroad indefinitely, as long as the U.S. has a Social Security Agreement with your country. You’re considered “outside the U.S.” after 30 consecutive days abroad; however, non-citizens have additional requirements.
Lori Underwood
Lori Underwood received her law degree from Northern Kentucky University. She previously practiced Social Security disability and personal injury law and was a juvenile court attorney.
She has been an attorney at
Woods & Woods since 2014.
