Foreign Pensions

I am a 61-year old widow. My husband of 30 years passed last April, 2018 from cancer. I am collecting his SSI-Widow's Benefits here in the USA. I am American, he was from England, and always maintained his British citizenship. He came here in 1985 and has worked and lived here up until 2018. Question: Can I collect both SSI-Widow's Benefits here in the USA and also collect my husband's UK Pension? He worked in UK for about 15-17 years before moving to USA. I am in process of applying for his pension in UK as he had wanted me to do before he passed.

Hi Larry!

My wife is drawing ss from Switzerland as a result of her working and living there for 20+ years (Swiss citizen). She has also worked in the US and paid FICA in 7 years since she came to the US. In only 3 years did she earn more than 10k$ (some of the other 4 years was 200$ and one was 2k$). If she applies at her age 66 for spousal benefits on my record when I begin to draw my age 66 FRA benefit, will she be be "deemed" using both her US work record and her spousal application on my work record in determining her spousal benefit or will she simply get 50% of my benefit?

I am a US citizen and lived and worked in the UK for 38 years. Was eligible for UK pension at 60. Decided to defer to age 70 as I want to take the 10 year balance as a lump sum which is possible in the UK. I returned to the US in 2010 and as I had not worked here am in the process of accruing the 40 units necessary for medicare and social security. Will I be entitled to get social security here at 70 when I have accrued the necessary 40 credits? even though I will also be claiming a UK pension? Question Number 2.

Dear Larry, I filed for spousal benefits online following the information that you gave me regarding my UK Pension. I quote your reply :- Your UK pension would have no bearing on your eligibility for spousal benefits nor your benefit rate. Foreign pensions are not considered as government pensions for purposes of the GPO provision, as is specified in the first bullet of section B of the following reference from Social Security's operations manual : https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0202608400 .

i receive a pension of now 174 euro per month since about2010 for when i worked in germany for 11 years from about 1958 / 1969,that includes my 3 years as apprentice to learn my craft .also i get ss ,part of my husbands ss benefit, had not enough quarters to draw my own ,now i do, since i worked the last 10 years and paid into the system i got a letter requesting info for foreign pension.what is this about.i no longer have some of the paperwork they request, my german pension is paid into my german bank acc thank you so much edeltraud

Hi Edeltraud,

My wife is Canadian and worked in Canada for 20 years. We married and have lived in the states together for 5 years. She is a permanent resident and might apply for citizenship. I’m 33 and she is 44. Some questions:
1. When she turns retirement age (assuming it will be 62), will she be eligible for US social security?
2) will she be eligible for Canadian social security?
3) when will she be eligible for the spousal benefit?

Thanks

Hi,

I divorced June 2017. My ex just told me that I still qualify for a small amount of his pension from the UK. (He was born and raised in N. Ireland and worked there till he came to the states at the age of 29.)
I am 71 and getting social security from my deceased first husband. I still work, self-employed and make only $6000 yearly.
The UK pension would give me an additional $200 month. If I choose to take that money, would that impact my monthly SS which is currently $2100?
I won't take the money if it will reduce my SS.

Will my polish survivor's pension reduce my social security disability benefits and do i have report it to SSA?
I am a widower .i receives survivor's pension in Poland .In USA I had accident at work and I just received Social Security Disability benefits.
Thank you for your answer.

Hi,

You may want to report what you're getting to Social Security just to be safe, but as long as the pension that you receive isn't based on your own work and earnings then it won't affect any type of U.S. Social Security benefits that you qualify for.

I am austrian, 62yrs., married for 14 years to an american, i have my austrian pension. I want to apply for for spouse benefits. Will my austria pension affect it and do i have to mention it at all

Hi,

No, your Austrian pension won't affect your spousal benefits but I wouldn't recommend failing to disclose it on your application.

Best, Jerry