Here Are the 7 Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Social Security
1. Can I receive Social Security Benefits while living in Thailand?
Yes. If you are a United States citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments while residing outside of the United States as long as you are eligible for them. If you have not signed up for Direct Deposit already, the Social Security Administration will send the check directly to your Thai address.
While you are living outside of the United States, Social Security will periodically send you a questionnaire. You will need to return the questionnaire to the office that sent it as soon as possible. If you do not, your payments will stop. In addition to responding to the questionnaire, it is imperative that you notify the Social Security Administration promptly about changes that could affect your payments. If you work or own a business outside the United States and are younger than full retirement age, notify the Social Security Administration immediately. If you do not, it could result in a penalty that could cause the loss of certain benefits.
For full details, please see the SSA web page Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States.
2. When can I collect Social Security Benefits?
Regardless of your full retirement age (also called “normal retirement age”), you may start receiving benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. For more information on eligibility and to calculate the amount of your retirement benefits, please see the SSA web page When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits.
3. How do find out the amount of money I will receive per month from Social Security?
The amount you will receive per month varies according to your age as well as your lifetime work history and credits. To determine your individual benefit, please use one of the SSA’s online Benefit Calculators.
4. If I die, will my family abroad receive a death benefit from Social Security?
Your survivors, after reporting your death to the Consulate, will receive a Consular Report of Death, plus other documents that they can use to apply for a lump sum death payment, survivor benefits, or children’s benefits directly from the Social Security Administration. Information about eligibility, age requirements, and other important issues can be found at the SSA web page for Widows, Widowers, and Other Survivors.
5. Can I receive Medicare coverage while in Thailand?
Medicare is the United States health insurance program for people ages 65 or older. Persons living or traveling outside of the United States, however, usually cannot benefit from Medicare. For details, please see the Medicare publication Medicare Coverage Outside the United States (PDF, 58 KB). For general information about Medicare, please visit the Medicare website.
6. Can I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments while living in Thailand?
No. SSI beneficiaries must be present in the United States, and they lose eligibility by being abroad for 30 days. They are not entitled to benefit payments if they are outside the United States, and they must re-qualify after returning to the United States. However, exceptions to the nonpayment provision are made for certain children. For more information, please see the SSI website.
7. How the Social Security is paid if you live in Thailand?
If you live in Thailand then your Social Security can be paid directly into one of the following:
- A bank in Thailand
Or by check sent directly to your Thai address - Payment to a bank in Thailand:
- Your Social Security can be paid electronically into any bank in Thailand.
Payment will be made in the local currency of Thailand in which the bank account is held. No charges are made for this service if you only spend part of the year abroad. If you divide your time between the US and Thailand you’ll have to choose which country you want your Social Security paid into. You can’t choose to have it paid in one country for part of the year, and a different country for the rest of the year.
If you decide to come back to live in the US. In this situation, you can ask for your Social Security to be paid into a US bank account.
Paying tax on your Social Security
Your tax position will depend on:
Whether you’re classed as ‘non-US resident’ for tax purposes the country in which you’re living
If you spend part of your time in the US and part abroad you’re likely to be classed as a US resident. If you move abroad permanently, you’re likely to be classed as a non-US resident.
If you are a nonresident your tax position depends on whether you live in a country with a ‘double taxation agreement’ with the US. This means you won’t have to pay US income tax, but it will be taxable in the country where you live.
If you live in a country without a ‘double taxation agreement’, you’ll have to pay US income tax and may be taxed again abroad.
The good news is that the US and Thailand had signed a Double Taxation agreement. That means, if you live in Thailand, your income will only be taxed in Thailand and you no longer have to pay income tax in the US.
However, paying taxes on your Social Security is not included in this agreement.
Making Social Security contributions if you work in Thailand
Depending on how long you work in Thailand, you can have your contributions credited to your US Social Security or you could receive two Social Security Benefits – one from the US and one from the country where you lived and worked. This will be decided when you reach Social Security age, taking into account where you live.
7. What to Do When You Want to Return to US?
In most cases, American expats invariably return to their home country—which can often result to few significant issues from a financial viewpoint. One of those issues is the repatriation of the Social Security Benefit funds. If such a case happens to you, make sure to seek professional help for guidance so that you don’t miss out on the opportunities offered to repatriate.
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