How Citizenship in Another Country Affects SSDI and SSI

Relocating to another country, be it for work, family or any other reason, is a giant step to take. During the transition, you can be sure to expect a heap or more of complicated paperwork and changing policy documents. As you may have expected, this applies to Social Security benefits among many other things.

If you are not a dual citizen of the United States and another country planning on relocating internationally, there are some special rules your should be aware of. Fortunately, the SSA has a standing agreement with many countries to provide benefits for disability despite foreign citizenship. In this blog, we discuss how benefits for SSDI and SSI may be affected by citizenship outside of the U.S.

SSDI Benefits in Countries with International Agreements

Generally, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is regulated much more leniently than other types of U.S. benefit programs. This is because the U.S. has Social Security agreements with over 50 countries around the world, in an effort to provide Americans that relocate the same required benefits they received when living in the States. These benefits are based more on one’s inability to work than one’s financial situation, which is the reasoning behind such agreements.

Countries that currently have a Social Security agreement with the U.S., in which SSDI beneficiaries can receive payment without restriction, are:

While you will be fully eligible for SSDI benefits as the main recipient and a citizen in these countries, the rules become a bit different in some countries if you are receiving benefits as a survivor/dependent. To receive SSDI in any of the countries listed below as a survivor/dependent, you must have lived in the U.S. for at least five years, and have been in the same relationship with the main beneficiary throughout that time:

Note: This is not a comprehensive list! For a full list of countries with special Social Security Agreements with the U.S., access the SSA’s guide on international payments here.

Dependent children that receive SSDI benefits on a parent’s behalf in these countries must have also lived in the U.S. for at least five years or have a parent/guardian fulfill the criteria (children born in the U.S. that relocate with parents before age 5). Children adopted in another country cannot receive benefits on their adopted parents behalf while outside of the U.S.

The residency requirements stated above are waived if:

• As a dependent, your are receiving benefits on the record of a worker who died in military service or from injuries/disease from military service
• You were eligible for monthly SSDI benefits on or before January 1, 1985
• You are a citizen of any country with an ongoing Social Security agreement

It should be mentioned that, in any of these circumstances, you may still have to return to the United States for periodic medical assessments, supporting your ongoing SSDI payments. If your medical condition significantly improves or your neglect to comply with these assessments, you will likely have your SSDI benefits cease. 

In addition, the Social Security Administration has agreements with a number of countries that facilitate combining work credits earned under U.S. Social Security and other the Social Security systems of those countries. This process is referred to as Totalization Benefits. If you have worked under multiple Social Security systems, you should contact a local Social Security office for assistance in determining which authority has jurisdiction over your case.

If your condition improves and you are able to go back to work, the SSA will continue to provide you SSDI benefits in other countries for nine months, in what the administration refers to as a “trial work period.” If you are able to return to work, the SSA will provide benefits for three more months before ultimately discontinuing benefits on the twelfth month; if you find you cannot return two work following the trial period, SSDI benefits will continue.

SSI Benefits and Moving Outside of the U.S.

Unlike SSDI, Supplementary Security Income (SSI) benefits face strict limitations for U.S. citizens that relocate to other countries. In fact, there is only one case in which SSI benefits will continue to be awarded to citizens of another country: if the beneficiary is the child of military personnel currently receiving SSI benefits, and must leave the U.S. due to their parent’s military duty in another country.

In all other situations, SSI payments will cease after beneficiaries have spent 30 days outside of the U.S. These benefits will only be reinstated once the beneficiary has spent 30 consecutive days back in the U.S.

If you are planning to move to another country and would like to learn more about how your benefits may be affected following the move, don’t hesitate to reach out to disability specialists or a Social Security office in your state.