The Social Security Administration (SSA) allows U.S. citizens to receive benefits even if they live in certain countries. You have the right to continue receiving your Social Security benefits in India for as long as you are eligible under your own earnings or are a dependent/survivor.
Who is eligible to get Social Security Benefits:
You earned a minimum of 40 credits under the Social Security system or worked in the U.S. for at least 10 years. You are a beneficiary of someone’s benefits, as long as they earned at least 40 credits or worked in the U.S. for at least 10 years and you lived in the U.S. for at least five years
Can Indian Citizens get Social Security benefits?
Benefits are also paid to anyone who is an Indian citizen but not a U.S. citizen and has “Met an exception to the alien nonpayment provisions of the Social Security law” Please read more at SSA – POMS: RS 02610.001 – Alien Nonpayment Provisions – 02/02/2012
How do they pay Social Security benefits? Can they pay when we are in India?
Your benefit payments can be deposited directly into an account at a bank or other financial institution in the U.S. or India. Direct deposit eliminates wait times and provides you with immediate access to your funds.
If you don’t want to use direct deposit, you may choose to receive benefit checks by mail. Social Security and federal benefit checks are issued by the U.S. Treasury between the 10th and 15th of each month and then mailed out. You can also pick up your check every month at the U.S. Embassy if you live in the New Delhi Consular District or at U.S. Consulate offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, or Chennai.