This is my annual reminder for older immigrant couples (like my spouse and I).
Social Security monthly retirement benefits (Age 62+)
Can be earned:
1. Based on immigrant's own work record OR
2. Based on spouse's work record (must be married for 1 year or more). This does not affect the SS retirement benefit of the US spouse. The immigrant is not required to have any SS work credit. I believe the amount is 50% of spouse's monthly deposit.
Medicare (non-special qualifications)
1. Immigrant must have been a Green Card holder for 5 years.
2. Normally, immigrant must be 65 years old. Immigrant can be entitled to receive FREE Medicare Part A (Example: US Spouse is already receiving SS retirement benefits and US spouse already receives free Medicare Part A). Immigrant will pay the normal Medicare Part B monthly premiums (currently about $174.00) which is deducted from any monthly Social Security benefit deposit.
In our case, I was not aware of the spousal Social Security benefit, so we applied for wife's Social Security and Medicare at the same time (on the same Social Security form) when she turned 65 years old. It took Social Security only a few days to approve her SS retirement benefit and to start her Medicare Parts A & B. Coupled with a good Medicare supplement (ours is Tricare For Life), this provides really good health care coverage.