I will be moving to Mexico in the coming months but I still have reservations about claiming my social security while residing in Mexico.
Can I still claim my social security if I move to Mexico?
Do I need to return to the states every few months? Do I need to keep an address in the U.S?
Any other information you guys have would be a big help.
Greg
Can I still claim my social security if I move to Mexico?
Glynna Prentice – IL Mexico Editor
Claiming your social security in Mexico should not be a problem. Mexico is one of many countries in the world to which you can have your social security payments sent.
There are two ways to handle this. However, in both cases you’ll want to have your social security direct-deposited to a bank account. One option is to continue having your social security direct-deposited to your U.S. bank account. You can then use your U.S. bank debit card to make ATM withdrawals from that account while in Mexico.
Alternatively, once you’re established in Mexico, you can open a Mexican bank account and have your social security payments direct-deposited to that Mexican account. Note that your social security payments will be converted into Mexican pesos when the payments are deposited in Mexico. If you want to keep your social security in U.S. dollars, you should keep the payments going into your U.S. account.
Don Murray – IL Riviera Maya Correspondent
What Glynna said, and no need for periodic returns to the US with a Resident Visa.
Jason Holland – IL Roving Latin America Editor
Ditto what Glynna said. I would add that this is a good resource with information on how certain circumstances might affect someone’s social security payments while abroad: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf
Suzan Haskins – IL Editor
Yes, you can claim your Social Security benefits no matter where in the world you live. And you can do that in a couple of different ways. You can have it direct deposited into a bank account in the States that you access via ATM withdrawals as you travel. Or you can have it direct deposited into a bank account in Mexico or in almost any other country you might choose to live.
You do not need to return to the States every few months and the government does not require that you keep a US address although there are probably other very good reasons to do that.