Both my wife and I are US Citizens (born and raised). I am 50 years old and have been working as a US Citizen in the United States and meet the 35 year contribution target (as I started part-time when I was 15) but considering making a change in our status and becoming American Nationals residing in the US Virgin Islands and was wondering how that may impact our future social security benefits. Will will we forfeit our social security that was paid into the system by making this change? and can we live in any other countries as US Citizens and still collect our Social Security benefits while living overseas? Thanks for your help!

Hi,

No. Since you and your wife are U.S. citizens, moving to another country or to a U.S. territory such as the U.S. Virgin Islands wouldn't affect either your or your wife's benefit eligibility nor your benefit rates. However, there are a few countries to which Social Security benefits can't normally be sent, which currently are limited to Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Also, U.S. Treasury Department rules prohibit Social Security benefits from being paid to people residing in Cuba or North Korea (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf).

Best, Jerry