Retirement benefits may not be payable or may be payable only in part if you meet any of the conditions below:
You are under retirement age and earn more than the exempt amount (see §1803);
You are under full retirement age and work outside the U.S. for more than 45 hours in a month (see §1823);
You are in the U.S. and are neither a citizen nor an alien lawfully present;
You have been deported or removed from the U.S. (see §1841);
You are an alien who is outside the U.S. for more than six full calendar months in a row and you do not meet an exception to the alien nonpayment provisions (see 1843-1846). For information on payments while you are outside the U.S., see “Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10137.html and the Payments Abroad Screening Tool at www.ssa.gov/international/payments_outsideUS.html
You are in a U.S. Treasury restricted country where we cannot send U.S. Government payments (see 1847-1849). For information on payments while you are outside the U.S., see “Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10137.html
You are in an SSA restricted country and do not meet an exception (see 1847-1849). For information on payments while you are outside the U.S., see “Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10137.html;
You have waived the right to benefits because you are a member of a recognized religious group that is opposed to insurance. In this situation, you must have been granted exemption from paying the self-employment tax (see §§1128-1129); or
You are confined within the U.S. in a jail, prison, or other penal institution or correctional facility because you have been convicted of a felony.
(The conditions regarding nonpayment of benefits are explained in Chapter 18.)
Last Revised: Apr. 12, 2010