Are you thinking about traveling or moving and wondering how that could affect the financial benefits you receive through the Social Security Administration? Here’s what you need to know about how both SSI and SSDI handle these situations, and what you can do to continue receiving the Social Security disability benefits you need to make ends meet.
Understanding SSD Benefits
The Social Security Administration operates two disability benefit programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI provides benefits to workers who must stop working due to a disability. SSI provides benefits to low-income individuals whose disabilities prevent them from working. The different eligibility requirements for each program mean that traveling or moving can affect continued receipt of benefits. As such, you should familiarize yourself with the rules regarding your benefits before you travel to another state or country or move from your current state of residence.
Traveling within the U.S.
Both SSDI and SSI recipients may travel freely within the United States and its territories without affecting their right to receive benefits. Taking short trips (i.e., less than 30 days) do not affect benefits. To be safe, recipients should ensure that they have a permanent mailing address on file with the Social Security Administration to receive written correspondence about their benefits.
However, a long-term absence from one’s purported state of residence may lead the Social Security Administration to question whether a recipient has relocated, which might affect SSI benefits due to differences in state supplement payments.
Moving to Another State
SSDI and SSI recipients should inform the Social Security Administration of their new address and phone number whenever they move from one state to another. Moving to another state does not affect a person’s eligibility for SSDI or SSI benefits. However, SSI recipients may see a change in their monthly benefits since some states provide supplemental benefits that may affect a recipient’s SSI benefit.
Traveling or Living Abroad
SSDI and SSI recipients can also travel abroad for short-duration trips without affecting their benefits. However, SSI benefits can stop if a recipient travels outside of the U.S. for more than 30 days, although their benefits will resume when they return to the U.S. Recipients should notify the Social Security Administration if they plan international travel that will last 30 days or more, providing the country or countries they plan to visit and the date they expect to leave and return to the U.S. SSDI recipients can receive benefits in many foreign countries during extended international travel.
An SSDI recipient can continue to receive benefits if they move to a foreign country, since their entitlement to benefits arises from their past employment and contribution to the Social Security system. Conversely, SSI recipients will see their benefits stop if they move to another country, although their benefits will resume when they move back to the U.S.
The Social Security Administration cannot send SSD payments to several countries, including:
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Cuba
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- North Korea
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
However, for certain SSDI recipients, the Social Security Administration may arrange exceptions for the above countries, except Cuba and North Korea.
Contact an SSD Attorney Today
Need help with a Social Security Disability matter in the Metro St. Louis area? If so, contact Crowe & Shanahan today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Social Security disability benefits lawyer. We are proud to serve both Missouri and Illinois residents and to help them pursue the benefits they’re entitled to by law.