Social Security benefits

[rico4444 3]

To Wuozopo………she’s 56

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

Is there an amount of time an LPR must live in the US to draw SS Survivor benefits? I thought I read that somewhere but could not find it.

Edited May 28, 2022 by Carpe Vinum

[Mike E 11,741]

1 hour ago, Carpe Vinum said:

Is there an amount of time an LPR must live in the US to draw SS Survivor benefits? I thought I read that somewhere but could not find it.

My understanding is that a foreign spouse must have had 5 years of physical presence in the USA to draw survivor (or spousal benefits while the other spouse  is alive).  I further understand that the 5 year requirement is waived for:

 

* LPRs (but if an LPR isn’t actually residing in the USA, it beats me how the LPR stays an LPR except by I-131 re-entry permits and a generous CBP officer. I’d call this playing with fire). 
 

* citizens of certain counties.  Pretty sure the Philippines isn’t one of them. 

 

* residents of certain countries. Pretty sure the Philippines isn’t one of them.  
 

The gravy train of spousal / survivor SS benefits thus has a cost if the foreign spouse wants to the train to keep running: naturalize  or live in the USA. 

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

Just now, Mike E said:

My understanding is that a foreign spouse must have had 5 years of physical presence in the USA to draw survivor (or spousal benefits while the other spouse  is alive).  I further understand that the 5 year requirement is waived for:

 

* LPRs (but if an LPR isn’t actually residing in the USA, it beats me how the LPR stays an LPR except by I-131 re-entry permits and a generous CBP officer. I’d call this playing with fire). 
 

* citizens of certain counties.  Pretty sure the Philippines isn’t one of them. 

 

* residents of certain countries. Pretty sure the Philippines isn’t one of them.  
 

The gravy train of spousal / survivor SS benefits thus has a cost if the foreign spouse wants to the train to keep running: naturalize  or live in the USA. 

That's what I thought, too. I am a member of a expat forum and they discussed this as well and having to meet the requirement.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

5 hours ago, Carpe Vinum said:

Is there an amount of time an LPR must live in the US to draw SS Survivor benefits? I thought I read that somewhere but could not find it.

You might be thinking of the Medicare requirement to buy into Part B when you don’t qualify otherwise for free Part A. One can do that if they have lived legally in the US five years. Example: Immigrant parents brought to the US who did not work in the US and don’t have 40 quarters of SS credits or a spouse eligible for Social Security. They have to live here 5 years before they can buy into Medicare PART A and B. The premium is higher for them than the current $170/mo, but maybe not as high as private insurance at age 65+.

Edited May 28, 2022 by Wuozopo