Can Social Security direct deposit payments go to foreign bank accounts?

SSA does NOT allow direct deposit to foreign banks in most countries. Portugal is not one of the countries with direct deposit agreements. You have basically two options: keep your US bank account and withdraw money abroad (watch for fees), or use the Direct Express debit card program. I've been living in Spain part-time for 5 years and maintain my US account - it's much simpler.

my sister lives in mexico 6 months a year and she just keeps her US bank open. i think thats what most people do

There's actually a list of countries where SSA can send direct deposits. It's called the International Direct Deposit (IDD) program. But Portugal isn't on it yet. Here's the current list: Canada, Germany, Australia, UK, Ireland, Panama, Costa Rica and a few others. The only EU countries are Germany, Ireland and UK (though UK isn't EU anymore). You can see the full list on SSA.gov under "International Direct Deposit Countries." Most expats maintain a US bank account and then either transfer money periodically or use ATMs. Just be aware that you need to report to SSA that you're outside the US for more than 30 days - it's required even though it doesn't affect your retirement benefits.

I've been living in France for 3 years now and I just kept my American bank account. It's annoying but simplest. BUT BE CAREFUL about your Medicare!!! If you're outside the US for too long and have Medicare, you're still paying for it but CAN'T USE IT outside the US. Some people suspend their Medicare while living abroad to save money, but then you pay penalties when you restart it unless you have other valid coverage.

When I tried calling SSA about moving to Philippines (where my wife is from), I got disconnected 4 TIMES!!!! So frustrating!! 😡

CAREFUL ABOUT TAXES TOO! Just because you're living overseas doesn't mean you escape US taxes. I learned this the hard way. You still have to file US taxes as a citizen PLUS you might have to pay Portuguese taxes too depending on how long you stay there. There are tax treaties but it gets complicated fast.

My uncle moved to Costa Rica and he has his SS check sent to his US bank and then he just transfers money when he needs it. He says the fees aren't too bad with certain banks.

i heard somwhere that some countries don't let americans get SS benefits? is that true?

One thing nobody mentioned - if you're keeping your US bank, make sure it's one that doesn't require a US mailing address or regular US presence. Some banks have closed accounts when they discover customers live overseas permanently. Chase is usually OK with part-time overseas living, but for full-time expats, banks like Schwab, Capital One, and some credit unions are better options.

I've been researching this exact situation for my own retirement plans! One thing I'd add is that you should also check with your Portuguese bank about their policies for receiving regular international transfers. Some European banks have specific requirements or fees for recurring transfers from US accounts. Also, consider setting up a Wise (formerly TransferWise) account - many expats use it for better exchange rates when moving money between countries. The fees are usually much lower than traditional bank wire transfers, and you can set up automatic transfers from your US account. Just make sure to keep detailed records of all international transfers for tax purposes!

If you don't have an answer yet, ask here: fbu.dublin@ssa.gov