Nowadays, it is common for workers in Georgia and elsewhere to take on work outside of their state, even outside of the country. While this opens a person up to a work of opportunities, working abroad for a multi-national corporation could have its setbacks. What if you are injured while you are working in a different country? What is this injury causes you to suffer a disability?
Can you receive SSD benefits for an injury caused while working abroad? The answer to this question is that it depends. Specifically, a person must be working for a company that is multinational and has ties with the U.S. Additionally, that country must have a Social Security agreement. An exception to the rule is a self-employed person working abroad. So long as the host country is listed, this eliminated the need for dual coverage.
What is dual coverage? The international Social Security agreement has two purposes. The first is to eliminate dual Social Security taxation. This occurs when a worker from one country works in another country, requiring them to pay Social Security taxes in both countries. The second purpose is to fill in gaps regarding benefit protection for workers that tend to divide their career between both the U.S. and another country.
When a person is injured or suffers a serious illness, causing them to be temporarily or permanently disabled, it is possible to file an action. This agreement allows the individual to apply for SSD benefits at any Social Security office in the U.S. or in the foreign country.
Suffering a disabling injury or disease can be challenging. Living and working abroad when it occurs can pose some issues; however, these can be addressed if the applicant takes the time to understand the matter and what rights thy have to recover benefits.
Source: Ssa.gov, “U.S. International Social Security Agreements,” accessed June 24, 2018
