Hi
My query is whether I am entitled to any financial help. I am a British citizen, I married an American citizen on 31st December, 1976 in England who sadly passed away 5th January, 2007. He was born in Los Angeles on 18th March, 1956. We lived and worked in Oakland, California from 1976 to 1982 when we permanently moved back to the UK. I wrote to the American Embassy in London for information but no response.

I look forward to your reply.

Kind regards
Pauline

Hi Pauline,

I'm sorry for your loss.

If your husband worked long enough in the U.S. to be insured for benefits, and if you and he were married and resided in the U.S. for at least 5 years, you may be able to draw widow's benefits. You would need to be at least age 60, or 50 and disabled, in order to be potentially eligible (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/ifyou2.html). For additional information about receiving Social Security benefits outside the U.S., refer to this Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf.

For information on filing for U.S. Social Security benefits in the U.K., refer to Social Security's website: https://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/uk.html.

Best, Jerry