Social Security benefits

[rico4444 3]

It is my understanding that my foreign-born wife is eligible for a widow’s benefit from social security after I die if we obtain permanent residency (i.e. green card) for her? I’m currently a SS recipient. Is this correct? And Part B, if that is correct, does she need to obtain US citizenship also?

[Mike E 11,741]

Where does she live?

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

My understanding is that she can apply for SURVIVOR benefits after becoming a legal resident....However, Medicare is a totally different animal, and it has additional requirements. 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Wuozopo 4,293]

28 minutes ago, rico4444 said:

It is my understanding that my foreign-born wife is eligible for a widow’s benefit from social security after I die if we obtain permanent residency (i.e. green card) for her? I’m currently a SS recipient. Is this correct? And Part B, if that is correct, does she need to obtain US citizenship also?

Read it straight from the SSA https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ifyou.html

 

 

 

[rico4444 3]

Thank you all!

[Mike E 11,741]

7 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

My understanding is that she can apply for SURVIVOR benefits after becoming a legal resident....However, Medicare is a totally different animal, and it has additional requirements. 

There are ways for non resident foreign surviving spouses to get SS benefits.  Hence my (unanswered) question: where does OP’s spouse live.  It starts but does nit end there.  
 

I believe Medicare is cut and dried. If you don’t live in the USA, you aren’t getting it, even if you are a U.S. citizen. 

[rico4444 3]

To Mike E…….we both live in the Philippines now. We’re in the process of obtaining her green card. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

15 minutes ago, rico4444 said:

To Mike E…….we both live in the Philippines now. We’re in the process of obtaining her green card. 

There are certain countries where SSA benefits can not be paid. Philippines is not one of them. Should she live in the Phils after becoming eligible for Social Security, she could still collect. If she then came to the US, she would have to prove she entered legally to be eligible for her benefits.

 

She would have to wait until her full retirement age to get your full benefit amount. She could draw reduced amounts starting at age 60 as a widow. If she remarries, she is no longer eligible for your benefits unless she has reached the age of 60 before remarrying.

 

Here is the Medicare bulletin for those requirements. https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10043.pdf

Edited May 27, 2022 by Wuozopo

[Mike E 11,741]

13 minutes ago, rico4444 said:

To Mike E…….we both live in the Philippines now. We’re in the process of obtaining her green card. 

If she lives in the USA as an LPR she can have social security survivor benefits and Medicare. @Crazy Cat just recently went through the process of helping his LPR spouse get Medicare.  
 

There are other ways.  The rules are complex and not worth trying to summarize in full.  
 

If you can wait until age 70 to start collecting then this will be most beneficial to her after you you pass.  The argument about whether to collect at 62, full retirement age (65-67 depending on date of birth) or 70 is fierce one  among singles. However for married people generally the spouse with higher lifetime earnings should wait until age 70 to draw SS. This way the spouse with lower lifetime earnings can get the deceased’s maximum benefits 

 

[rico4444 3]

To Mike E…….to clarify, re: your advice/information. I started collecting my SS benefits last September when I turned 70. My wife is Filipina. She has never lived or worked in the US. We just started compiling our documents and will file the I-130 within the next week or so. I’m anticipating at least 15-18 months (if not more) before she gets her interview. At this point in time, we haven’t decided where we’ll live after she gets her green card (probably the US and Philippines, 50-50) and probably citizenship. Medicare is the least of my concerns. All I really care about is that she gets survivor’s benefits after I die. After I die, she’ll return to the Philippines.

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

8 minutes ago, rico4444 said:

I started collecting my SS benefits last September when I turned 70. My wife is Filipina. She has never lived or worked in the US.

You might want to read this if you ever want to consider Medicare for her.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[rico4444 3]

Thank you Crazy Cat! I will read it.

[Mike E 11,741]

@rico4444 that you are now drawing SS at age 70 is helpful to her.  My understanding is that she also needs an SSN.  While I believe as a surviving widow SSA will issue her an SSN, it is going to be simpler for sure if she gets LPR status first.  
 

So you are on the right path.  A widow’s benefit from a spouse who has age 70 benefits goes a long way in the Philippines.  

[rico4444 3]

Mike E., thank you very much for all your feedback, advice and information. Very helpful and much appreciated!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

@rico4444

 

How old is your wife?