Notify Social Security if out of the country over 30 days?

[jmd8800]

Surely this has been mentioned before. I did a basic search but didn't see anything on this.

 

In the pamphlet that arrived in the mail with my SS approval letter there is a statement that has me wondering.

 

"I agree to notify the Social Security Administration promptly if I (or any person for whom I receive benefits) become employed or self-employed while outside the United States, change citizenship, or go (for 30 days or more) to any country other than the residence address I have entered in this application."

 

Do I have to notify them that I am in Thailand most of the year? If it matters, my address filed with SS is in California and so is the bank that the money from SS will be deposited into. Am I reading it wrong?

 

TIA

 

 

[gk10002000]

I don't think you are reading it wrong, but I am pretty sure few people obey the 30 day reporting clause. 

[Pib]

Yeap, that's the rule....like it or not....how many people comply I don't know....but it is the rule.

 

The rule is there primarily because there are some countries where payments can not be made to and/or just because the person is in country X his payments are not allowed (not even to a U.S. bank account) until they leave that country.  Doesn't matter where the payments are being made to such as to a U.S. bank, it just because he's in that country.  

 

There are U.S. pensioners living in almost every country on Earth and unfortunately there are restrictions for some countries....various level of restrictions.   And of course the SSA makes different type of payments beyond the social security pension payment....payment like disability payments which have different rules regarding payment.

 

And then you get into the Dead or Alive confirmation letter that has to be sent to pensioners living in foreign countries either once a year or twice a year depending on which country you reside in to confirm you are still alive since the death reporting in many countries, especially 3rd world nations, is weak, slow which can lead to fraudulent payments (i.e., payments continuing after death to a person who is not suppose to get them (such as a spouse, some one with access to your bank account, etc) since you have moved on to the happy hunting grounds in the sky and the SSA didn't get notified.

 

Just because you are living in Thailand does "not" affect your payments in the amount or where you can have it direct deposited to...your payment can go to a U.S. bank or if you desire setup a special Direct Deposit account with Bangkok Bank for U.S. govt payments (Bangkok Bank is the only Thai bank with the capability).

 

Yea, that Social Security rule is more about "can we continue to pay you if you move to a certain country, now that you live in this country we have an additional requirement like the annual/bi-biennial sending of the Are You Dead or Alive letter., etc...etc...etc."

 

Now if the SSA finds out  in some way you are living in another country and failed to notify them they may suspend your payments....then you need to get with the SSA to work things out.

 

 

 

[jmd8800]

Thanks for the info. For me it is not a big deal I might as well comply.

[JimGant]

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Now if the SSA finds out  in some way you are living in another country and failed to notify them they may suspend your payments..

Doubtful. Particularly if you're living in a country that has no restrictions on payments of your SS payments. Somewhere awhile back, in my Google searches, I recall that the SSA has no legal recourse to prosecuting failure to report your new now out-of-county address. Makes sense, particularly if moving abroad doesn't affect your legal right to receive your SS payment.

 

Quote

"...or go (for 30 days or more) to any country other than the residence address I have entered in this application."

Yeah, right, every time I take a 45 day vacation abroad, the SSA wants me to report my new address. What idiot would do that, particularly if they knew not doing so would in no way affect their SS payment. (And how many additional employees does the SSA need to process these "have no affect" notifications?)

 

No, just keep your California address. Register online for your SS Account, where they'll ask for your "mailing address," which unless you now have a mail forwarding address (allowed), will still still be your California address. They'll then ask if this mailing address is your physical address. Just say no -- and no further questions will be asked (at least in my experience). Thus, don't do anything -- and keep getting your check, no laws broken -- and no annual "are you alive" letters to follow.

 

 

[bendejo]

I am not sure who takes an interest in US citizens coming and going from the country these days: State Dept? HLS? 

Would SS align with them?  I do not know, but my guess would be not. 

I think as long as you keep the same mailing address it would be best to give this rule a pass until SS confronts you with it, which may be never.  The more complicated you make things the more you open yourself up to "issues."

"We thought you were still out of the country."  "What? I sent a letter telling that I returned three months ago."  etc

 

 

[gk10002000]

17 hours ago, bendejo said:

I am not sure who takes an interest in US citizens coming and going from the country these days: State Dept? HLS? 

Would SS align with them?  I do not know, but my guess would be not. 

I think as long as you keep the same mailing address it would be best to give this rule a pass until SS confronts you with it, which may be never.  The more complicated you make things the more you open yourself up to "issues."

"We thought you were still out of the country."  "What? I sent a letter telling that I returned three months ago."  etc

 

 

Absolutely agree.  My interim travels in and out should be of no concern to the SSA.  Sending them some letter saying you are out of the country could easily lead to some clerk changing your official mailing address or who knows what else.