Foreign pension income, including social security benefits and railroad retirement benefits treated as social security, is explicitly excluded from the definition of "foreign earned income" for purposes of Form 2555. Therefore, you cannot exclude foreign pension income using Form 2555.
According to the instructions for Form 2555, foreign earned income does not include pension and annuity income (including social security benefits and railroad retirement benefits treated as social security). This means such income is not eligible for the foreign earned income exclusion or housing exclusion under Form 2555.
Instead, foreign pension income must be reported as part of your gross income on Form 1040, unless it qualifies for an exclusion under a different provision (such as a tax treaty or other specific exclusion). For guidance on reporting foreign pension income, refer to the instructions for Form 1040 and Publication 54 (Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad).
Source:
Form 2555 Instructions (2025)
Disclaimer: Always verify details with the current year’s IRS Form 2555 and its instructions, as well as applicable IRS Publications and state tax guidelines. For complex situations, consult a tax professional or attorney.