Will moving internationally affect my Social Security survivor benefits for me and my young children?

I went through something similar when I moved to Spain with my kids after my wife passed. Generally, SSA will continue sending survivor benefits to US citizens living abroad, but there are some countries where they can't send payments (like Cuba, North Korea, etc). The bigger issue is that your children's benefits might be affected if they become non-US residents for too long. You should definitely get this clarified before making any decisions. Check out the SSA's "Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States" publication on their website.

my brother moved to cAnada with his kids and kept getting the checks no problem. but i think u need to tell them ur leaving so they dont think something fishy is going on when they see foreighn atm withdrawls. call ahead of time.

As others have mentioned, it depends on the country, but there's more to consider here. The SSA generally continues paying survivor benefits to US citizens living abroad, but they follow specific rules: 1. Your own survivor benefits as a widow/widower caring for children under 16 should continue in most countries 2. Your children's survivor benefits also continue in most countries, but there might be residency requirements if they stay outside the US for extended periods 3. Some countries have "totalization agreements" with the US that make benefit administration easier 4. You'll need to complete an annual questionnaire to verify your status Before making any decisions, I'd recommend getting definitive answers from SSA. Their publication #05-10137 "Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States" covers this topic in detail.

I've spent HOURS trying to get through to SSA about international benefits questions and kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a real person in under 20 minutes! They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Totally worth it to actually speak with someone who could answer my specific questions about international benefits. The agent I spoke with explained everything about how my mother's survivor benefits would work during her 2-year stay in Portugal.

There's a lot of confusion about this topic, so let me clarify a few things: 1. For US citizens, survivor benefits typically continue regardless of where you live (with a few restricted countries as exceptions) 2. Non-citizens may face more restrictions after 6 months outside the US 3. You MUST notify SSA before leaving (use form SSA-21 "Notice of Intended Residence Outside United States") 4. You'll need to complete form SSA-7162 or SSA-7161 annually while abroad 5. Consider how you'll receive payments - direct deposit to a US bank is usually simplest Also, your children's citizenship status matters. If they're US citizens, their benefits typically continue. If not, different rules may apply after 6 months abroad.

BEWARE of tax implications!!! The US will STILL tax your Social Security benefits even if you're living abroad! AND the foreign country might ALSO want to tax that income! You could end up paying DOUBLE TAXES on your benefits!!! This happened to my friend who moved to Germany with her kids. She had NO IDEA about this and ended up with a huge unexpected tax bill. You NEED to consult with an international tax expert before making any decisions!!!

dont forget to update ur address with ssa when u move!!! my friend moved to costa rica and didn't tell them and they almost stopped her payments cuz her mail was coming back undelivered and they thought she died!!

One more important consideration for your children: If they're receiving survivor benefits and you move internationally, SSA may periodically require proof of school attendance after age 16, proof of life, and other documentation to continue their benefits. The process for providing this documentation from abroad can be complicated. Also, if your children become residents of another country, there could be different rules that apply after they've been outside the US for 6 calendar months. Make sure you understand these requirements before moving. Finally, consider how currency conversion and international transfer fees might affect the actual amount you receive each month.

After reading all the comments, I wanted to add that from my experience living in Spain while receiving survivor benefits, the process was manageable but required attention to detail. Here's what worked for me: 1. I kept my US bank account for direct deposits 2. I notified SSA before leaving (took about 45 minutes on the phone) 3. I filed form SSA-21 as mentioned above 4. I renewed my address information whenever we moved 5. I responded promptly to the annual questionnaire The benefits continued without interruption, but I did have to visit the US Embassy once to verify some information. Overall, it's definitely possible to maintain your benefits while pursuing international opportunities.

I'm going through something similar right now - my husband passed 18 months ago and I'm receiving survivor benefits for myself and my 4-year-old daughter. We're considering a move to New Zealand for my work. From my research so far, I've learned that timing is everything! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you're planning to be gone for more than 30 days, you need to report this to SSA in advance. Also, make sure you understand the difference between "temporary" and "permanent" residence abroad - SSA treats these very differently for benefit purposes. I'd also suggest documenting everything when you call SSA. Get reference numbers, agent names, and ask them to mail you written confirmation of what they tell you over the phone. I learned this the hard way when I got conflicting information from different agents. Has anyone dealt with opening bank accounts in their new country while keeping US accounts? I'm worried about meeting foreign banking requirements while maintaining my US financial ties for the benefit deposits.

I'm so sorry for your loss and what you're going through. As a widow myself who moved to Australia with my two kids while receiving survivor benefits, I wanted to share what I learned. Australia is actually one of the better countries for this - we have a totalization agreement with the US which makes things smoother. A few key things I wish I'd known before moving: 1. You'll need to maintain a US address for SSA correspondence (I used a mail forwarding service) 2. Australian banks can be difficult about opening accounts without local employment history, but showing your SSA benefit statements helps establish income 3. The time difference makes calling SSA challenging - I found early morning my time (evening US time) worked best 4. Keep detailed records of every conversation with SSA and get confirmation numbers One thing that caught me off guard was that Australian Medicare doesn't cover everything immediately for new residents, so make sure you understand the healthcare transition period. Also, the cost of living in major Australian cities can be quite high, so factor that into your budget planning. The good news is that once everything is set up properly, the benefits continue reliably. It's definitely doable, just requires careful planning upfront. Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the Australia experience!

I'm also a widow considering an international move with my children while receiving survivor benefits, and this thread has been incredibly informative! One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of understanding how your move might affect other benefits you might be receiving. For example, if you're getting SNAP benefits, Medicaid, or housing assistance in addition to your survivor benefits, moving abroad will definitely affect those programs since they're not available to people living outside the US. Make sure to factor the loss of these additional benefits into your financial planning. Also, I've read that if you're receiving survivor benefits as a young widow with children under 16 (like many of us in this thread), there can be additional scrutiny from SSA about your living situation abroad. They want to make sure the children are still in your care and that your circumstances haven't changed in ways that would affect your eligibility. One practical tip: I've started keeping a detailed file with all my SSA correspondence, benefit statements, and important documents organized and ready to go. If I do decide to move internationally, I want to have everything easily accessible for any paperwork or verification requirements that come up. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making what seemed like an impossible decision feel much more manageable!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I really admire your strength in considering new opportunities while managing everything you're going through. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like moving to Australia while keeping your survivor benefits is definitely possible, but there are a lot of important details to get right. One thing I'd suggest is creating a checklist from all the advice shared here - things like filing Form SSA-21, setting up mail forwarding, keeping your US bank account, understanding the tax treaty implications, etc. It might help to tackle these one at a time rather than feeling overwhelmed by everything at once. I'm also dealing with SSA for disability benefits and found that their online portal (my Social Security account) sometimes has information that's easier to access than trying to get through on the phone. They have some publications specifically about international payments that might give you more detailed information to review before your calls. Whatever you decide, it sounds like you're being really thoughtful about protecting your family's financial security while also considering opportunities for your future. That balance is so important, especially when you're rebuilding after such a major loss. Wishing you the best with whatever path you choose!

I work for an immigration law firm and we frequently help clients navigate these exact issues. One critical point I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should request a "benefit verification letter" from SSA before you leave the US. This official document proves to foreign banks, employers, and government agencies that your survivor benefits are legitimate ongoing income. Also, be aware that some countries require you to report all foreign income (including US Social Security benefits) when applying for residency permits or work visas. Having proper SSA documentation makes this process much smoother. For Australia specifically, you'll want to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) as soon as possible after arrival. While the US-Australia tax treaty should prevent double taxation on your survivor benefits, you'll still need to file tax returns in both countries and having a TFN is required for that. One last thing - consider consulting with both a US tax professional AND an Australian tax advisor before you move. The consultation fees are worth it to avoid costly mistakes later. Good luck with your decision!

I'm a Social Security representative who monitors online discussions to provide accurate information. I want to clarify a few important points from this thread: First, you MUST report your plans to live outside the US to SSA before you leave. This isn't optional - failure to report can result in benefit suspension or overpayment issues. For survivor benefits specifically: US citizens can generally receive survivor benefits while living abroad, but there are exceptions. Your children's benefits may face different rules if they're not US citizens or if they remain outside the US for extended periods. The forms mentioned are correct - Form SSA-21 for notification of intended residence abroad, and annual questionnaires (SSA-7162 or SSA-7161) to maintain benefits. Regarding Australia: We do have a totalization agreement with Australia, which helps with benefit administration. However, this doesn't change the basic reporting requirements. A few corrections to information shared above: - The 30-day reporting rule mentioned earlier applies to temporary trips, not permanent moves - You don't need to visit a US Embassy unless specifically requested by SSA - Direct deposit to foreign banks is possible in many countries, including Australia I strongly recommend calling our international operations at 410-965-0160 (from outside the US) for personalized guidance. Don't rely solely on general online advice for decisions this important to your family's financial security.