Can Social Security Disability Payments Continue if I Am Abroad? (2024)

In some cases, your Social Security disability payments may continue if you areabroad. If you are only visiting another country for less than 30 days or remain in a U.S. territory, you will continue to receive your Social Security disability like normal.

Rules against continuing to receive your disability check each month may apply in the following circ*mstances where you will remain abroad longer:

• If you move out of the U.S.
• If you visit certain countries

However, most people can continue receiving benefits as usual as long as they complete the right paperwork and follow the instructions provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Factors Determining if You Can Continue to Receive Disability Payments Abroad

The rules for receiving disability benefits are different forSocial Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)andSupplemental Security Income (SSI).

SSDI is based on work credits. How many work credits you need depends on your age. The Social Security Administration will likely continue your checks when you are abroad if you are a U.S. citizen and:

• You qualify for disability based on your own work record
• You live in an approved country
• You plan to stay in that country (or another approved) country for six months or less

Even if you stay abroad for more than six months, you may be eligible to continue receiving your disability payments. You will need to complete paperwork, and the Social Security Administration may ask you to come back to the United States to review your eligibility in person.

SSI helps those who have limited income and resources. If you receive SSI, it is not possible to continue drawing benefits while you live abroad. The SSA will not continue your check if you are in another country. Once you are outside the United States or one of the territories for 30 days, your benefits will stop. After returning to the United States and remaining in the country for at least 30 days, you can request your benefits again.

No matter what type of benefits you have, you must inform the SSA when you leave the country for an extended period. Otherwise, you will be fined and could even lose your benefits in some cases.

Disability Payments Cannot Be Sent to Some Countries

The United States has special agreements with some countries for continuing your disability payments. However, the agency cannot send payments to certain countries. Suppose you visit Cuba or North Korea for more than 30 days. In that case, the Social Security Administration will hold your payments until you return to the United States or to another country where the agency can continue payments.

The Social Security Administration cannot send payments if you are in the following countries unless you meet special eligibility requirements:

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

The Social Security Administration provides an online tool to find out more about getting your benefits while abroad. Enter your informationon its International Programs pageto ensure you will continue receiving benefits.

How a Disability Lawyer With Our Firm Can Help You

Our lawyers have over 40 years of experience serving Social Security Disability applicants, and now is the time to help you. Our team will:

• Advise you on your options
• Help you figure out which SSD program you can qualify for
• Review the evidence, your application, and/or required paperwork for going abroad
• Identify which deadlines apply to you

Many disability claims are denied following the initial submission. This denial isn’t the final answer. If you receive a denial, our lawyers can represent you throughout the appeals process. This comprises reconsideration, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), an Appeals Council review, and a Federal Court review. Your claim may be accepted at any of these stages. If you are awarded benefits you may receive back pay.

In addition to representation for your Social Security disability claim, we want to speak with you if your disability was caused by an accident or other personal injury including workers’ compensation or medical malpractice. Let us investigate your case, prove negligence and liability, and build a strong case to support a payout.

We can tell you more about how our team could help you with your claim when you contact our firm.

Get in Touch With Berger and Green for Help with Your Disability Today

If you receive Social Security Disability payments and plan to travel abroad for more than 30 days, consider how this may affect your disability benefits. In many cases, you would need to complete specific paperwork, and then the Social Security Administration would mail your payments to you in another country. Contact one of our local attorneys specializing in Social Security Disability today to get more information.

Call Berger and Green today at (412) 661-1400 to get started. Our team will review your case for free.