I am 69 years old, not a US citizen, have not worked in the US, residing in the Philippines. My husband died recently. I applied for widow's benefit based on my husband's work credits. Will there be deductions to it?

Hi,

Yes, as a non U.S. citizen living in the Philippines, it certainly sounds like any U.S. Social Security benefits for which you qualify would be subject to the Nonresident Alien Withholding Tax Provision (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0205010001). What that would mean is that 25.5% of any benefits otherwise payable to you would be withheld.

Furthermore, based on the limited information in your question it sounds as though that unless your spouse died while in the U.S. military service or as a result of a service connected disease or injury, then you may not qualify to be paid any U.S. Social Security widow's benefits unless you resided in the U.S. for at least five years while you were married to your deceased spouse (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0302610025).

Best, Jerry