Hi Mike. Thanks for mentioning that. I’m not super familiar with those totalization agreements, but I will do some research on it and consider writing about it in a future post. In the meantime, here’s a link to some information on the Social Security website that addresses the issue: http://www.ssa.gov/international/agreements_overview.html. Hope that helps. Thanks!

Joe

Joe,
What about Social Security “totalization” agreements the US has with some foreign nations? A US citizen living in a foreign country covered by one of these agreements enrolls in the host nation system and is no longer required to pay into US Social Security. The purpose is supposed to be to relief from paying into two retirement systems at the same time (much the same goal as the foreign earned income exclusion – relief from double taxation). However, I am concerned that when retirement time comes, I am going to learn that my US Social Security benefits are no longer available to me because I am enrolled in a foreign system. Would you consider writing on this subject? The information on the consequences of using these “totalization” agreements seems almost purposefully vague.
Kind Regards,
Mike

Some people just won’t suit life outside of the US. Sometimes a holiday to a country you are interested in seeing is the best option. The only way you’ll get a feeling for a Country is by testing out life there.