Social Security Retirement Benefits – for former USCs and LPRs (Intersection of U.S. Tax and Social Security Law)
The basic law of social security, regarding retirement income (not survivors or dependent’s benefits) is set out below, and does not consider those countries with a Totalization Agreement (of which there are 26 countries, 25 which are currently in force):
- Generally, a worker must have 40 quarters (which is 10 years) of “covered employment” to be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.
- U.S. citizens have virtually no limitations imposed upon them for receiving retirement benefits, provided they have met the 40 quarters of “covered employment”.
- Covered employment largely means the individual was
- self employed in the U.S. (and paid social security taxes) or
- was working for a U.S. employer (where the actual employer was/is a U.S. corporation or otherwise a U.S. tax resident) either in or outside the U.S.; and
- the employment must generally be full time.
- Historically, there were no limits on Social Security payments to non-U.S. citizens.
- Congress then passed a law in 1956 that required non-citizens to generally reside in the U.S. to receive Social Security payments.
- Subsequently, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 added Section 202(y) to the Social Security Act. Section 202(y) of the act, which became effective for applications filed on or after December 1, 1996, states:
- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no monthly benefit under [Title II of the Social Security Act] shall be payable to any alien in the United States for any month during which such alien is not lawfully present in the United States as determined by the Attorney General.
More details on social security retirement benefits regarding former USCs and former LPRs to come in a further post; specifically including a discussion of how the vested retirement benefits under the Social Security Act are not terminated upon a change of immigration status or loss of U.S. citizenship.
See also, What happens to social security benefits to former USCs and LPRS including a “covered expatriate”?
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May 18, 2014 at 11:02 am
Reblogged this on SSAT Ontario and commented:
This is a nice starter post. Note the end which says:
“More details on social security retirement benefits regarding former USCs and former LPRs to come in a further post; specifically including a discussion of how the vested retirement benefits under the Social Security Act are not terminated upon a change of immigration status or loss of U.S. citizenship.”
Also, see this post on Social Security and Totalization agreements found here:
http://www.ustaxationabroad.ca/us-social-security-eligibility-and-americansabroad/