Most people assume that once they have qualified for Social Security based on their U.S. earnings, their monthly benefit will follow them anywhere in the world for life. This is true for U.S. citizens. But for non-U.S. citizens, including former U.S. citizens and former green-card holders, the rules are very different. These individuals are classified as nonresident aliens, NRAs, for U.S. tax purposes. Unless an exception applies, the Social Security Administration, SSA, will suspend benefits payments once the NRA has been outside the United States for six consecutive months.
This article is Part II of a three-part series explaining the SSA’s foreign-citizen rules. My earlier Forbes article, Part I, explained SSA Country List 1. It described the most favorable category listing countries whose citizens may receive uninterrupted Social Security payments abroad with no return-to-the-U.S. requirement. List 1 citizenship is the gold standard and prevents return trips to the U.S. regardless if the individual resides in a country that is not on SSA Country List 1.
This article turns to SSA Country List 2, which works very differently. Understanding how List 2 works is essential, especially for former U.S. citizens and green-card holders who expect to retire abroad but do not qualify for List 1 citizenship. Planning ahead is essential to avoid unexpected problems, including a sudden suspension of Social Security benefits.
For green-card holders this can be more troublesome, and the risks are even greater. A green card is often surrendered when an individual is challenged at the border for failing to maintain U.S. permanent-residence requirements, This not only raises questions about the continuation of Social Security benefits abroad but can also trigger an unintended tax expatriation.
Social Security Abroad: An Important But Unaddressed Topic
There is a surprising lack of comprehensive, up-to-date reporting on these rules. SSA’s own publications are detailed but technical; consumer articles rarely grapple with the distinction between citizenship and residence or the specific own-earnings trigger that makes List 2 work. This information gap leaves many people unprepared for what can be a difficult administrative and financial event. It can mean interrupted retirement income and repeated travel to the United States to restore benefits.
Aside from this issue, many individuals do not anticipate that harsher U.S. tax rules may apply once they are no longer U.S. persons. NRAs are subject to a more onerous tax system on income from U.S. sources (such as Social Security benefits) since it is based on withholding at source usually at a flat 30% rate.
The Six-Month Rule: The Baseline for Non-U.S. Citizens
All non-U.S. citizens, including former U.S. citizens, are subject to the default six-month rule. If they remain outside the United States for six full calendar months, their Social Security payments stop commencing in the seventh month. To restart payments, they must return to the U.S. and spend one entire calendar month legally present in the country. Unless an exception applies, this pattern repeats every six months indefinitely.
SSA Country List 2: What It Does
SSA Country List 2 provides an important exception to the six-month rule. If the individual is a citizen of a List 2 country and is receiving benefits on their own U.S. earnings record, Social Security payments continue indefinitely, even if the person resides abroad permanently. The six-month return requirement does not apply. (If the individual is receiving Social Security payments as a dependent or survivor, additional requirements must be met, but this is beyond the scope of this article.)
It is important to note that List 2 is distinct from the list of countries that have signed totalization agreements with the United States. Being a citizen of a List 2 country is sufficient to maintain payments abroad if receiving benefits on one’s own record; the existence of a totalization agreement with that country is not required. In fact, a totalization agreement does not provide any automatic protection for foreign citizens receiving U.S. Social Security while living abroad.
Please note that the country lists can change and one should always check the SSA website for updated information. As of this article’s publication date, the list is current.
The countries on SSA Country List 2 are Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, The, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montenegro, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Venezuela, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Social Security Abroad Means Citizenship Is Key, Not Residence
One of the most common misunderstandings is that a person must live in a listed country to benefit from List 2 protections. This is not correct. Social Security payments are determined by citizenship, not residency. For example, a citizen of Albania living in Thailand can receive uninterrupted Social Security payments if they are receiving benefits based on their own U.S. earnings record. On the other hand, a former U.S. green-card holder who lives in a List 2 country but who is a citizen of a non-listed country remains subject to the six-month rule.
Practical Considerations For Receiving Social Security Abroad
For anyone planning to relinquish U.S. citizenship or green-card status, List 2 can have significant practical benefits. Payments can continue abroad without interruption. Individuals who qualify under List 2 may reside anywhere in the world without worrying about returning to the U.S. every six months. List 2 protections apply only to those receiving Social Security on their own work history. Dependents or survivors may qualify under additional SSA rules.
Planning ahead is critical. Before expatriating, confirming citizenship and SSA eligibility under List 2 can prevent unexpected suspensions or administrative complications. Dual citizenship may provide flexibility. Those with ties to List 1 or List 2 countries may consider maintaining or acquiring such citizenship to safeguard future Social Security benefits.
Conclusion
SSA Country List 2 provides an important safety net for foreign citizens who have earned Social Security credits in the United States. Unlike the most generous List 1, which covers citizens broadly, List 2 protections are specifically tied to individuals receiving benefits based on their own U.S. earnings record.
For these individuals, Social Security payments can continue indefinitely abroad without interruption, even if they live in countries that are not otherwise listed, and the six-month return requirement does not apply. Understanding this exception is critical for former U.S. citizens, former green-card holders, and other non-U.S. citizens who rely on Social Security benefits abroad.
Posted Febuary 12, 2026
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First published on Forbes January 10, 2026
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