Reporting to Social Security Administration Travel Over 30 Days

[beg3yrs]

Just starting to collect Social Security and I just learned there's a requirement to report being out of the country for over 30 days. It seems the purpose is to arrange for payments to be sent elsewhere. But, if it's just a long cruise, say less than five months and all my banking will remain in the USA, is this really required? Will there be repercussions if I don't report this?

 

Asking here because I want to hear actual experiences with this rather than wait hours on the phone to get an official set in stone response from a bored government call center employee.

[crystalspin]

I don't have actual experience, but my husband (who gets retirement benefits) think it only applies if your SS is mailed to you. He is on direct deposit. But I looked up the instruction for SS-retirement (not SS-disability or SSI) and they state:

"Let us know if you plan to go outside the United States for a trip that lasts 30 days or more. Tell us the name of the country or countries you plan to visit and the date you expect to leave the United States. We’ll send you special report submission instructions and tell you how to arrange for your benefits while you’re away. Be sure to let us know when you return to the United States."

[SargassoPirate]

Why would they want to know where you are if you have direct deposit?  It makes no difference.

 

 

[mtnhiker]

I agree with SargassoPirate.  Direct Deposit takes away the non-cashing of a mailed paper check.  Sounds like these instructions have not been updated since last century (millennium).

[Mum2Mercury]

I'm years away from SS, but I'd like to know the answer to this question!  The comments about mailing-a-check vs. direct-deposit make perfect sense. 

[CruisingAlong4Now]

I do let the US Dept. of State know when I leave the country.  With all the global turmoil, I'd like the local US Embassy or consulate to know I'm nearby.

 

You can also register to receive State Dept travel advisories prior to, or during, your trip.

 

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (state.gov)

[BamaVol]

I don’t think you can receive a paper check anymore. The option wasn’t offered when I started collecting SS. 

 

Old rule - New times. 

[TravelinGert]

They say you have to tell them because if you leave the US longer than 30 days they suspend your SSI payments. Specifically the law allows them to suspend coverage if you're gone longer than 30 days and you must have it restarted when you return. In order to do that you must provide copies of your passport, plane ticket, and some other documents to establish you have returned to the US.

 

My grandmother let them know she was leaving for 29 days and they still suspended her payment for 30 days. My uncle went through a lot trying to get her reimbursed for the missed payment since she wasn't gone 30 days and eventually they did correct it. However she went without that money for around a year. 

 

And yes, my whole family was surprised to learn this is the case considering we have family members who retired to other countries with less expensive cost of living and still receive their SSI retirement benefits. Seems they never notified Social Security and just have a mailing address and bank account in the US the whole time. All of them claimed to be unaware they were supposed to have notified Social Security.

[Kwaj girl]

This reporting requirement may apply to SSI benefits but not necessarily Social Security RETIREMENT benefits.

[dmwnc1959]

On 6/6/2024 at 9:25 PM, Kwaj girl said:

This reporting requirement may apply to SSI benefits but not necessarily Social Security RETIREMENT benefits.

I'm hoping that's the difference. Maybe someone can clarify specifics on retirement benefits, and if you are required to notify them if leaving the country for more than 30 days. I have direct deposit, and am recently retired. 

[Kwaj girl]

7 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:

I'm hoping that's the difference. Maybe someone can clarify specifics on retirement benefits, and if you are required to notify them if leaving the country for more than 30 days. I have direct deposit, and am recently retired. 

 

I'm wondering why SSA would care if someone gets their monthly Social Security payment whether in or out of the US.  This is OUR money that we contributed over a lifetime of work.  Not like unemployment benefits where you're supposed to be actively seeking employment in order to qualify.

[dmwnc1959]

3 minutes ago, Kwaj girl said:

 

I'm wondering why SSA would care if someone gets their monthly Social Security payment whether in or out of the US.  This is OUR money that we contributed over a lifetime of work.  Not like unemployment benefits where you're supposed to be actively seeking employment in order to qualify.

Oh, I totally agree! I had been reading the thread and wanted to make sure that there wasn't some weird requirement I was missing. Post #8 was the one that made me question things. I'll be out of the country next year for right at 32 days. Already talked to my mail carrier about holding the mail for that long, as well as having someone check the house once a week. 

[PJsArtFun]

Regular social security stops after 6 consecutive months out of country. 
https://www.ssa.gov/international/index.html
 

SSI (supplemental security income, which is a completely different thing and is NOT based on what you paid into SS) stops after 1 month of absence from the US. 

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/reporting/changes

[Kwaj girl]

9 hours ago, PJsArtFun said:

Regular social security stops after 6 consecutive months out of country. 
https://www.ssa.gov/international/index.html
 

SSI (supplemental security income, which is a completely different thing and is NOT based on what you paid into SS) stops after 1 month of absence from the US. 

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/reporting/changes

 

This looks like the reporting requirement is for recipients that will be staying/relocating to other countries for extended periods of time.  If your direct-deposit goes to a US bank - and you're on a ship - shouldn't matter.

[PJsArtFun]

27 minutes ago, Kwaj girl said:

This looks like the reporting requirement is for

You are correct that Social Security reporting is only for a long-term absence.
 

My point is that the 30-day reporting requirement is not for Social Security at all. SSI is supplemental income based on disability and low income status, and when either of those changes they need to re-evaluate the recipient’s status to make sure the person still qualifies. 

[GeezerCouple]

Most of these restrictions do NOT apply to SS = SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS for US citizens.

They apply to SSI (this is the DISABILITY program), or in some cases, to non-citizens.

 

The "rules" for Social Security retirement benefits are very clear in the link given above:

 

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf

 

There are a few restrictions if someone is IN one of the countries with certain, er, difficulties with the USA (such as North Korea, Belarus, etc.; see link for current list).

However, 1) they can make exceptions for certain people, and 2) you'll get the money later, such as when you return to the USA (or other suitable country, which includes most countries).

 

Here is the important information:

"

Your right to Social Security payments when you are outside the United States

If you are a United States citizen, you may continue to receive payments while outside the U.S. as long as you are eligible for payment and you are in a country where we can send payments. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet one of the conditions for payment described in the next section.

"

Note the mention of being in a country where they *can* send payments.  Otherwise, they'll send your back payments when you leave a country with such restrictions.

And this is for US Citizens.  Non-citizens do have a few other restrictions.

 

Be careful not to get confused by the rules that apply to:
"... If you are not a United States citizen..."

 

GC