4. Workers Who Retire in Certain Foreign Countries

If you live outside the US and decide to retire, you must know that there are a few countries to which the US government cannot send your Social Security payments. These countries are as follows:

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Cuba
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• North Korea
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan.

If you live in one of these countries and you’re thinking about retiring there, keep in mind that exceptions may be available. Unfortunately, North Korea and Cuba take no exceptions. The government’s Payments Abroad Screening Tool is a simple way to find if you will be able to further obtain Social Security benefits while living abroad or if restrictions will apply.