What happens to my Social Security if I retire abroad?

U.S. citizens can generally receive Social Security retirement benefits while living in most foreign countries, with payments deposited to a U.S. or sometimes foreign bank account. A handful of countries (such as Cuba and North Korea) cannot receive payments, and a few others have restrictions. Non-citizens face additional rules and may see benefits stop after six months abroad unless they meet specific exceptions or live in a country with a qualifying agreement. Note that retiring abroad does not exempt you from U.S. taxation of benefits if you remain a U.S. taxpayer, and some countries also tax the income. Medicare generally does not cover care outside the U.S., which is a separate planning issue. If you are an NRI planning a move, the broader return-and-relocate picture is covered at wealthserene.com/tools/return-to-india.