Living their entire lives in the United States, contributing as a worker and paying taxes, does not oblige retirees to remain in the country during the golden years. Each citizen can move to the country of their choice, as they are free to do so. The biggest doubt that arises when a retiree starts collecting Social Security is whether they can continue to collect their benefit abroad.
This is a very common doubt in Social Security users, as spending the retirement years abroad is the dream of many Americans. This is because some do not travel during their working years and then want to visit countries such as France, Italy or some other part of Europe. Asia is also a very common destination for American retirees, as the economic level is usually lower, so the pension lasts longer.
As a short answer we can say that yes, retirees can apply for a Social Security check while living abroad. In most countries we will be able to continue receiving our retirement benefits without worrying that the Administration will cut it off. But there are countries where we won’t be able to collect our monthly check, so we must choose well where we want to live.
Countries where we cannot collect Social Security
We have already mentioned that in most countries we can collect Social Security, but this is not always the case. If we travel to the following countries, we will not have the SSA benefit every month:
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
However, keep in mind that the United States Government and the Social Security Administration keep changing this list of countries. So it is advisable to check directly with the SSA before you start moving to a foreign country. Do it well in advance, no one wants to organize a trip and end up not having the money we thought we were going to have.
What will happen to my pension if I cannot receive it abroad?
As a general rule, citizens traveling to a foreign country where it is not possible to cash a Social Security check will be able to receive it when they leave that country. This way, if you spend a full year in that particular country, you will see the payment for all that time withheld through your My Social Security Account.
Do not forget to update your information through this account for this type of procedures. Still, you can also notify us by phone or go to an office near you. But if you are abroad and you are leaving a country where you cannot collect Social Security, the best option is to use your private account, so all the procedures will be faster.