When you consider relocation and getting the social security benefits you have earned from numerous years of working, you may not realize that these two decisions are related until you start researching the regulations behind receiving social security benefits. If you plan to use this income to help with monthly expenses, there are several places you should not relocate to in your golden years.

What Countries Are on the List?

Some countries are easy to work with, and if you decide to live abroad while receiving these benefits, you can still get them in those countries. This is not true for every country, however. The countries on the list of not receiving social security benefits include the following:

1. Cuba
2. Uzbekistan
3. Azerbaijan
4. Moldova
5. North Korea
6. Belarus
7. Turkmenistan
8. Kazakhstan
9. Tajikistan
10. Kyrgyzstan

The rules that apply to receiving social security benefits can differ between someone who is a United States citizen and someone who isn’t but eligible to receive social security benefits.

Why Are These Countries on the List?

According to the Social Security Administration, the United States cannot send these payments to these countries based on local laws and politics within the area. These countries now allow payments from the United States through their postal system or bank wires to their local banking facilities. For many of these countries, the reasons are more about the ability to secure funds in these areas and less about politics.

Some countries have rules about citizenship requirements for those who relocate after so many days, which can conflict with your citizenship in the United States.

Are There Any Exceptions to These Countries?

There are two countries that under no circumstances can you receive your benefits – Cuba and North Korea. This is a direct correlation to the relationship that the United States has with these two countries, and there is no change to this rule in the foreseeable future.

Regarding the other eight countries on the list, special approval may be granted depending on the situation. A social security recipient can appeal and request this permission by contacting the SSA directly and outlining the details of the relocation.

North Korea does not have a United States embassy to assist citizens living in the area with federal benefits. However, the other countries on this list have an embassy where you could get assistance if necessary. If you will be out of the country for a longer time frame than you originally anticipated, you will need to reach out to these embassies for assistance.

What Happens to My Payments?

For those who are United States citizens and are eligible for social security payments, your payments will be held until you return. Then you can receive the payments held at once if you were in one of the eight countries, with some exceptions. However, if you were in Cuba or North Korea and not a United States citizen, you would not be eligible for payments during this time, even if you did satisfy the requirements of receiving them.

Once you are out of the country and unable to receive these payments, the Social Security Administration will stop your payments, and you will have to reapply for them once you return to the States. Before you decide to travel or relocate, reviewing the Payments Abroad Screening Tool is a good idea to see how your benefits will be affected during and should you return from your destination.