FAQ - Social Security

If I retire overseas, will I lose my Social Security pension? Can I combine a U.S. pension with a foreign one, having worked at home and in another country?

You can receive your U.S. old age pension even if you reside overseas. It can even be deposited directly into your foreign bank account by Social Security which may assure you of a more favorable exchange rate. Americans having worked in the U.S. and in another country (and having contributed to both old age pensions) run the risk of being penalized in the U.S. by application of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) which reduces the U.S. pension. This offset may be avoided by invoking Totalization Agreements between the US and a foreign country by proper planning, which must be started before retirement. AARO is lobbying Congress to reduce/repeal the WEP.

What is AARO doing about WEP?

AARO has joined the Coalition Assuring Retirement Equity (CARE), a Washington alliance dedicated to the repeal or the WEP and representing many employee associations. Bills are pending in both Houses for repeal or reform of WEP and AARO remains alert to join CARE initiatives to roill back this inequitable measure.

I have worked in the USA and accumulated 35 quarters under US Social Security. I have also worked 20 quarters in a foreign country having a Totalization Agreement with the US. Am I entitled to a US old-age pension?

Yes, if your foreign quarters have been earned in a country having a Totalization Agreement with the US, they can be used to make up the missing five quarters required for vesting a US pension. Such pension however will be calculated on the basis of your US quarters only.