• Home
  • About
    • Your Planning Team
      • Social Security Benefit Locations
  • Select Your Plan
  • Speaker Info
  • Client Stories
  • Learning Library
    • Social Security FAQ’s
    • Social Security Insights Blog
    • Social Security Top Links & Resources
    • Podcast’s
    • Social Security Events
    • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
  • Find Us:
Social Security Benefit Planners
Select Your Plan QUIZ Think You Know Social Security? FREE EBOOKSocial Security Basics
  • Find Us:
  • Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Your Planning Team
      • Social Security Benefit Locations
  • Select Your Plan
  • Speaker Info
  • Client Stories
  • Learning Library
    • Social Security FAQ’s
    • Social Security Insights Blog
    • Social Security Top Links & Resources
    • Podcast’s
    • Social Security Events
    • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

What Every Expat Needs to Know About Social Security

expat social security benefits

So you’ve decided to work or retire out of the good old USA. How does this affect your Social Security and Medicare benefits? The answer varies by country, and it can work out better for you in some countries versus others.

  • About 20 countries have agreements to prevent double taxation. In the rest, you will pay taxes to your host country as well as Uncle Sam.
  • About 25 countries maintain bilateral agreements that allow you to transfer Social Security credits to and from the U.S. For example, if you work in the U.S. for 20 years and then move to Canada and work there for another 10 years, when you retire you can transfer your U.S. credits to Canada to vest into their system (or vice versa).
  • There are a few countries, such as North Korea and Cuba, where you will not be allowed to receive Social Security benefits while living there.
  • Your non-U.S. spouse may or may not be entitled to your benefits if you were to pass. The laws vary by country and are quite complex.
  • If you think you will ever move back to the U.S., then it is very important to sign up for Medicare part A, which is free, at age 65. There are ways to opt out of part B if you qualify, but if you do not sign up for part A there are permanent penalties that will persist throughout your retirement.
  • If you worked overseas and did not pay into Social Security for certain years, your pension from that country will most likely trigger a Windfall Earnings Provision (WEP) that partially offsets your Social Security benefit.

Determining retirement benefits for expats can be a confusing and complex, with many country-specific rules that change over the years. If you need help navigating Social Security options for expats and their families, reach out to us and let’s get you a plan in place!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Increasing Your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings Amount (AIME)
  • Tax Issues for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad
  • Paying the Bills: Potential Sources of Retirement Income
  • Delayed Retirement Considerations
  • Social Security Survivor’s Benefits and the Lump-Sum Death Benefit

Archives

  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • July 2021
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016

Categories

  • Business Owners
  • Children's Benefits
  • Divorce
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Expat Social Security
  • Family Benefits
  • International & Expat Benefits
  • LGBT Benefits
  • Podcast
  • Radio Shows
  • Retirement Benefits
  • Retirement fears
  • Retirement Planning
  • Shows
  • Social Security Benefits
  • Social Security Disability Benefits
  • Social Security Myths
  • Spousal Benefits
  • Uncategorized
  • Widow Benefits
  • Women and Retirement

Think you know Social Security well?

Take the Quiz

Start planning for your retirement today!

Select Your Plan

Would you like a free copy of Social Security Benefits Basics?

Request Your Free eBook

Secure Website
877-270-SSBP (7727)
info@socialsecuritybp.com

1117 Perimeter Center West
Suite W-212
Atlanta, GA 30338

  • About
    • Your Planning Team
  • Select Your Plan
  • Speaker Info
  • Client Stories
  • Learning Library
  • Contact Us
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Disclaimer

Social Security Benefit Planners, LLC and its affiliates are in no way associated with or approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Social Security Administration.

Social Security Benefit Planners
© 2023 Social Security Benefit Planners

Social Security Benefit Planners, LLC and its affiliates are in no way associated with or approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Social Security Administration.

  • Find Us:

Be sure to review us on Facebook and Google to let others know how SSBP has helped you!