Do I need to report my 5-week international trips to Social Security? Required or just recommended?

Yes, you actually do need to report those trips! It's part of SSA's regulations. The rule applies to anyone receiving Social Security benefits who leaves the US for more than 30 consecutive days. It doesn't matter if it's just for vacation - the requirement still applies. You can notify them by phone, but I recommend doing it in writing or through your my Social Security account online to have documentation.

me and my wife travel to mexico every winter for about 2 months and we NEVER told social security. been doing it for 6 yrs and never had a problem with our checks. i think they only care if your gone for like a whole year or something

The reporting requirement is definitely real, but it depends on WHERE you're traveling. If you're going to certain countries, benefits can actually be restricted! There's a list of countries where SS payments are restricted or completely prohibited (like Cuba, North Korea, etc.). For most European countries though, there's no restriction on receiving benefits. The real concern is if you stay overseas for 6 consecutive calendar months or more - that's when non-citizens might have their payments suspended. For US citizens, you generally can receive payments no matter how long you stay abroad, but the reporting requirement still applies.

I went through this EXACT situation last year!! I take 5-week trips to Australia annually to visit my grandkids. Called SSA to report it and waited on hold for HOURS just to be told they needed it in writing anyway. SUCH a waste of time! I ended up writing a letter and mailing it to my local office with delivery confirmation. They never even acknowledged receiving it! 🙄

not to get off topic but congrats on retiring!!! i still have 2 more years till i hit my FRA but im counting down the days lol. where in europe do you guys visit? my wife and i want to do italy next year

To answer your earlier question about penalties - they don't typically assess financial penalties for failing to report, but if they discover you've been out of the country without reporting, they could potentially suspend your benefits until you verify your status. It's more about compliance than punishment. The easiest way to report is through your my Social Security account online. There's a section for reporting changes, including foreign travel. You'll need to provide: - Dates of departure and expected return - Countries you'll be visiting - Contact information while abroad Do this before you leave each time and you should be fine!

This is SUCH a stupid rule!!! The government just wants to track our every move!! I've been taking 2-month trips to Canada for YEARS and never once reported it. Why should they care where I am when I EARNED these benefits??? It's MY MONEY that I paid into the system!!! As long as my direct deposit info doesn't change, they shouldn't need to know my location!!

Thanks everyone for the responses! Sounds like I definitely need to report these trips. I tried looking at my online account but couldn't find a specific place to report travel like someone mentioned. Guess I'll try calling, though from what everyone's saying that might be a nightmare. One last question - do I need to report the exact dates right now, or can I just give them a general heads up that I'll be traveling for about 5 weeks in June-July to Spain? Our exact return date isn't 100% finalized yet.

I work at a travel agency that specializes in retiree travel, and we actually remind all our Social Security clients about this requirement. The 30+ day reporting rule is real, but in my experience, SSA is much more concerned about people who might be living abroad permanently than vacationers. Still, better safe than sorry! One thing I recommend to clients is keeping a copy of your return ticket reservation readily available. That way, if there's ever any question, you can prove you intended to return to the US within a specific timeframe.