Does attainment of Argentine citizenship negatively affect U.S. Social Security benefits?

[RichardAlem]

As a U.S. citizen in the process of attaining Argentine citizenship, once attained, will my Social Security benefits be affected in any deleterious way? This is the first year in submitting Social Security Form-7162 in which I considered that answering YES to this question could have unpleasant consequences:

"Has there been a change in your citizenship or your country of residence that you have not yet reported to SSA?"

I presume that they refer only to changes in United States citizenship, such as a renunciation, which I would never do.

Would any U.S. citizen here who is receiving Social Security benefits, and who has also obtained Argentine citizenship, please let me know? I just want to be clear and avoid problems in the context of the radical changes now occurring in Washington D.C.

Thanks

 

[Jerry Nelson]

I went through something similar, so I can share a bit of reassurance.


Becoming an Argentine citizen does not affect your U.S. Social Security benefits as long as you keep your U.S. citizenship. The SSA cares only about whether you’ve renounced or lost your U.S. citizenship — not whether you’ve taken on an additional one.


Plenty of U.S. expats here in Argentina hold dual citizenship and continue to receive their Social Security checks without interruption. The key point is: Social Security is based on your U.S. work record and eligibility, not on your other passports.


On Form 7162, when they ask about “a change in your citizenship,” they’re referring to U.S. citizenship status (renunciation, revocation, etc.), not the acquisition of another citizenship. If you haven’t renounced, you’re still a U.S. citizen — so the truthful answer to that question is “No.”


Of course, always good to double-check with the SSA directly if you want official confirmation. But in practice, dual nationality (U.S. + Argentine) has not been a problem for retirees here receiving benefits.

 

[RichardAlem]

Thank you Jerry for taking the time to put my mind at ease. With the sea changes going on in the nation's capital, I just wanted to be sure. Much appreciated.

 

[Caribbean Cool]

As a U.S. citizen in the process of attaining Argentine citizenship, once attained, will my Social Security benefits be affected in any deleterious way? This is the first year in submitting Social Security Form-7162 in which I considered that answering YES to this question could have unpleasant consequences:

"Has there been a change in your citizenship or your country of residence that you have not yet reported to SSA?"

I presume that they refer only to changes in United States citizenship, such as a renunciation, which I would never do.

Would any U.S. citizen here who is receiving Social Security benefits, and who has also obtained Argentine citizenship, please let me know? I just want to be clear and avoid problems in the context of the radical changes now occurring in Washington D.C.

Thanks

.......and keep life easy.....keep a U.S. address and keep that address for you SSoc affairs and a U.S. bank account for benefits

 

[rdcooper]

I have a military pension that I'm using for my visa, as I'm not drawing Social Security yet. Does anyone know if keeping a US address and bank account negate me having to fill out a form every year to show Social Security I'm still alive so that my benefits don't stop?

 

[steveinbsas]

I have a military pension that I'm using for my visa, as I'm not drawing Social Security yet. Does anyone know if keeping a US address and bank account negate me having to fill out a form every year to show Social Security I'm still alive so that my benefits don't stop?

Just ask Google:

"No there isn't a specific law requiring U.S. citizens living abroad to file a "formula" with the Social Security Administration (SSA); however, U.S. citizens living abroad are generally required to file U.S. income tax returns with the IRS, and they can continue to receive their Social Security benefits while overseas, though specific rules apply and may vary by country. You may need to file a Social Security 1099 form if your benefits were subject to U.S. income tax, but there isn't a universal "form" filing requirement for all citizens abroad with the SSA."

But if you give the SSA a foreign address, you will get a different answer:

"Yes, U.S. citizens receiving Social Security benefits while living abroad are required to file a "proof of life" form, SSA-7162, to verify their eligibility and continue receiving payments. Failing to respond to this form can lead to the suspension of your benefits. You may also need to report life changes and file income tax returns annually."

 

[rdcooper]

Just ask Google:

"No there isn't a specific law requiring U.S. citizens living abroad to file a "formula" with the Social Security Administration (SSA); however, U.S. citizens living abroad are generally required to file U.S. income tax returns with the IRS, and they can continue to receive their Social Security benefits while overseas, though specific rules apply and may vary by country. You may need to file a Social Security 1099 form if your benefits were subject to U.S. income tax, but there isn't a universal "form" filing requirement for all citizens abroad with the SSA."

But if you give the SSA a foreign address, you will get a different answer:

"Yes, U.S. citizens receiving Social Security benefits while living abroad are required to file a "proof of life" form, SSA-7162, to verify their eligibility and continue receiving payments. Failing to respond to this form can lead to the suspension of your benefits. You may also need to report life changes and file income tax returns annually."

I'm just wondering how they would know I was living overseas if I don't tell them, unless the IRS reports it.

 

[steveinbsas]

I'm just wondering how they would know I was living overseas if I don't tell them, unless the IRS reports it.

I can't answer that one. I haven't filed a tax return with the IRS in at least ten years, and only once in the past fifteen, and I think that was before I began recieving SS payments.

I started recieving SS p ayments 13 years ago and have always used my address in Argentina.

It appears that there isn't a law that actually requires SS recipients to inform the SSA that they are living abroad, only to submit the "proof of life" form every other year if they have a foreign address on file with the SSA.

 

[rdcooper]

I can't answer that one. I haven't filed a tax return with the IRS in at least ten years, and only once in the past fifteen, and I think that was before I began recieving SS payments.

I started recieving SS p ayments 13 years ago and have always used my address in Argentina.

It appears that there isn't a law that actually requires SS recipients to inform the SSA that they are living abroad, only to submit the "proof of life" form every other year if they have a foreign address on file with the SSA.

Do you have to file an Argentine tax return?

 

[steveinbsas]

Do you have to file an Argentine tax return?

I have been living in Argentina for nineteen years and I have never declared my foreign "income" (aka ingresos?) to AFIP (now ARCA) or paid any income tax in Argentina.

I had to pau the bienes personales tax for three years (2006-2008), but I had not made the annual declaraciones. I didn't even know about the tax until 2009, when the seller's escribano told me that I needed to pay the taxes due for the three years and sent me to AFIP with the accountant he worked with.

Since then I have not been subject to the bienes personales tax, even though I bought and sold a PH the following year, sold the PH a year later and bought the house I have been living in fot the past fifteen years.