Understanding Social Security Benefits and Living Outside the United States
While many Huntington’s disease families remain in the United States (US), that is not true for everyone. If you want to relocate outside of the US, how will that impact your Social Security? Your ability to receive Social Security and live outside the US depends on the benefit you are receiving.
Social Security Disability Insurance
If you are a US citizen, you can continue to receive your SSDI benefit as long as you live in an eligible country. There are countries where Social Security (SSA) is not allowed to send benefits. You need to alert SSA that you are moving, where you are going, and how long you will be gone. If you are not a US citizen, but a citizen of another country or have other legal resident status, your benefits may stop if you are outside the US for more than six months. Citizens of certain countries will continue to receive payments no matter how long they stay outside of the US.
You will need to continue to complete any paperwork for your SSDI benefits. You may have to return to the US to review your SSDI eligibility in person because your case will continue to be reviewed.
Supplemental Security Income
If you receive SSI, you will not continue to receive benefits while you are abroad. If you are outside of the US for more than 30 days your SSI benefit will stop. SSI benefits will restart once you return to the US and remain in the country for more than 30 days. Make sure to keep SSA up to date about your location, they cannot restart your benefits if they do not know you have returned to the US.
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If you have questions, you can always Ask Allison!
