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Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S.

Most U.S. citizens can get Social Security benefits while visiting or living outside the U.S. Find out if you qualify.

Learn if you can collect Social Security benefits while living outside the U.S.

If you earned Social Security benefits, you can visit or live in most foreign countries and still receive payments. Look up the country on the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool to be sure you can receive your payments.

Use work credits from another country to qualify for Social Security

If you worked outside the U.S., you may not have enough Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security retirement or disability benefits. But you may be able to count your work credits from another country.

See if the country you have worked in has a retirement benefit agreement with the United States.

LAST UPDATED: June 15, 2023

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