Goodbye Social Security: if you travel to these countries, the U.S. will block payments

Every month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) issues payments to all beneficiaries of its program, which exceeds 74 million people. These range from retired workers to individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Deposits are issued automatically to the linked bank account, based on the beneficiary’s date of birth. Since the issuance is automatic, people who are outside the country, traveling abroad, can receive their money without any problems. As long as they are not traveling to two specific countries.

If you travel to one of these two countries, the U.S. will block your Social Security payments.

Month after month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) issues payments to more than 74 million beneficiaries. These include retirees as well as those covered under Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Payments are automatically deposited into the linked bank account, according to the beneficiary’s date of birth. Because the process is automatic, people traveling abroad can receive their money without problems – as long as they are not in two specific countries.

Where payments are blocked

Social Security recipients can collect their benefits from anywhere in the world, provided their destination or new residence is not Cuba or North Korea. If that is the case, the SSA will hold the money until the person returns to the US or moves to another country where payments are authorized. A full list of valid countries is available on the SSA’s international direct deposit page.

“If you are not in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa for at least 30 consecutive days, we consider you ‘outside the United States’ until you return and stay in the US for at least 30 consecutive days,” the SSA explains on its website.

Requirements to collect abroad

To receive Social Security payments outside the US, beneficiaries must meet certain conditions: be a US citizen, live in or visit an approved country, qualify for benefits based on income, or have been entitled to receive benefits since December 1956. In addition, payments can also continue if the worker on whose record the benefits are based died while serving in the military or became disabled during military service.

For more information, visit the International Payments section on the SSA’s official website.

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