Reporting to Social Security Administration Travel Over 30 Days

[beg3yrs]

Just starting to collect Social Security and I just learned there's a requirement to report being out of the country for over 30 days. It seems the purpose is to arrange for payments to be sent elsewhere. But, if it's just a long cruise, say less than five months and all my banking will remain in the USA, is this really required? Will there be repercussions if I don't report this?

 

Asking here because I want to hear actual experiences with this rather than wait hours on the phone to get an official set in stone response from a bored government call center employee.

[crystalspin]

I don't have actual experience, but my husband (who gets retirement benefits) think it only applies if your SS is mailed to you. He is on direct deposit. But I looked up the instruction for SS-retirement (not SS-disability or SSI) and they state:

"Let us know if you plan to go outside the United States for a trip that lasts 30 days or more. Tell us the name of the country or countries you plan to visit and the date you expect to leave the United States. We’ll send you special report submission instructions and tell you how to arrange for your benefits while you’re away. Be sure to let us know when you return to the United States."

[SargassoPirate]

Why would they want to know where you are if you have direct deposit?  It makes no difference.

 

 

[mtnhiker]

I agree with SargassoPirate.  Direct Deposit takes away the non-cashing of a mailed paper check.  Sounds like these instructions have not been updated since last century (millennium).

[Mum2Mercury]

I'm years away from SS, but I'd like to know the answer to this question!  The comments about mailing-a-check vs. direct-deposit make perfect sense. 

[CruisingAlong4Now]

I do let the US Dept. of State know when I leave the country.  With all the global turmoil, I'd like the local US Embassy or consulate to know I'm nearby.

 

You can also register to receive State Dept travel advisories prior to, or during, your trip.

 

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (state.gov)

[BamaVol]

I don’t think you can receive a paper check anymore. The option wasn’t offered when I started collecting SS. 

 

Old rule - New times. 

[TravelinGert]

They say you have to tell them because if you leave the US longer than 30 days they suspend your SSI payments. Specifically the law allows them to suspend coverage if you're gone longer than 30 days and you must have it restarted when you return. In order to do that you must provide copies of your passport, plane ticket, and some other documents to establish you have returned to the US.

 

My grandmother let them know she was leaving for 29 days and they still suspended her payment for 30 days. My uncle went through a lot trying to get her reimbursed for the missed payment since she wasn't gone 30 days and eventually they did correct it. However she went without that money for around a year. 

 

And yes, my whole family was surprised to learn this is the case considering we have family members who retired to other countries with less expensive cost of living and still receive their SSI retirement benefits. Seems they never notified Social Security and just have a mailing address and bank account in the US the whole time. All of them claimed to be unaware they were supposed to have notified Social Security.