Social Security for veterans abroad
Social Security can follow you to most countries. Here's where to get help.
Payments abroad
Social Security can be paid in most countries. U.S. Treasury rules block payments to Cuba and North Korea. SSA generally can't pay people in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, except under restricted conditions.
Federal Benefits Units
Social Security help abroad comes from Federal Benefits Units at U.S. embassies and consulates in: London, Dublin, Frankfurt, Kraków, Rome, Athens, Lisbon, Paris, Jerusalem, Madrid, Warsaw, Naples, Oslo, Mexico City, San José (Costa Rica), Ciudad Juárez, Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, Manila, Tokyo and Santo Domingo. There's no FBU help in Cambodia or Vietnam.
Taxes
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion doesn't cover pensions, annuities or Social Security. See taxes and voting abroad.
Last reviewed November 2026.
Common questions
Can I get Social Security while living in Thailand or the Philippines?
Yes. Social Security can be paid in both. The Federal Benefits Unit in Manila serves the Philippines region.