Foreign Pensions

My husband is receiving deferred Social Security retirement benefits, which he started receiving at age 67. He is also receiving retirement benefits from the Canada Pension Plan, for work while we lived in Canada. Since benefits are reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision. I will be applying for Spousal Social Security benefits based on my husband's work record next year at my full retirement age of 66. I will also be receiving a small pension from CPP.

I am a US citizen. I will have 30 years of earnings in the US and 5 years of substantial earnings in Switzerland. Can I collect social security payments from both countries? The Swiss age for full retirement Is 64 while in the US for me it is 67. Can I collect my Swiss benefit at 64 but wait until 67 or 70 to collect my US benefit? And do I file for my Swiss benefit through the US social security office? Many thanks in advance for your insights!

Hi,

1. I am 37 years old female. Could you please be so kind and provide me with the information if I paid national insurance contributions in the UK for 6 years, will I qualify for minimum state pension from the UK if I currently work in the United States for non-British employer for 4 years?
Will the years from both countries be combined together to qualify for pension when I reach the qualifying age?
2. I have heard I need to work 10 years to qualify for SS benefits. If I worked only for 9 years what would happen with my FICA money? Thank you for your time.

Hi Lary, I am 67 years old and a US citizenship. my husband who I married for 9 years is resident here in the US also get his retirement in Germany
My husband now also get the SSA from my work ( more than 50% of my earning]...even he doesn’t work in US...
Please advise if I can get the retirement from Germany too?
And what can I receive from his retirement or pension if he passed away
look forward for your reply
thank you Larry
Annelie

Hi Annelie,

Hi Larry,
I was born in the UK and worked there (for a US airline) since the 90's and paid into the UK system. I got married and became a US resident and for the last 4 years have been paying FICA (I'm now 51). I'm eligible for pension in the UK and will be eligible for pension in the US by the time I am of retirement age. How does totalization affect me? Can I use the years of paying into the UK system and add them to my SSA benefits? OR do I collect pension from both countries? Very confusing... Any help would be appreciated!!

Hi,

Hello Larry et al!

Hoping for some direction!! Hold onto your hats for this (seemingly complicated) series of questions!

If my Japanese wife draws both Japanese social security and claims spousal US social security, will her US spousal benefits be reduced?

Hi,

No, receipt of a Social Security benefit from Japan would not affect U.S. Social Security spousal benefits.

Best, Jerry

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?