Social Security Benefits

[rogerluli]

My laopo has been lately mis-informed by other wives about SS benefits that they would be entitled to. Evidently the erroneous conventional wisdom is that everyone must work for 10 years to qualify for benefits but it just ain't so. As the following from the SSA website clearly states, a spouse who has never worked still qualifies for 50% of her husband's benefit when she reaches full retirement age. When the husband dies (I always get a kick out of guys who talk about this by stating, "IF I DIE... ".I'm sorry babe it ain't optional... ) she is entitled to his full benefit...

 

Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse

 

can begin collecting the benefits as early as age 62. However, if the benefit begins early, the amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age.

 

can qualify on your record for Medicare at age 65.

 

can receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount if they start receiving benefits at their full retirement age.

 

who is caring for your child who is also receiving benefits can receive the full one-half benefit amount no matter what his or her age is.

 

Your spouse would receive these benefits until your child reaches age 16. At that time, the child's benefits continue, but your spouse's benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits (age 62 or older) or survivors benefits as a widow or widower (age 60).

 

http://www.ssa.gov/

[Randy W]

My laopo has been lately mis-informed by other wives about SS benefits that they would be entitled to. Evidently the erroneous conventional wisdom is that everyone must work for 10 years to qualify for benefits but it just ain't so. As the following from the SSA website clearly states, a spouse who has never worked still qualifies for 50% of her husband's benefit when she reaches full retirement age. When the husband dies (I always get a kick out of guys who talk about this by stating, "IF I DIE... ".I'm sorry babe it ain't optional... ) she is entitled to his full benefit...

 

Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse

 

can begin collecting the benefits as early as age 62. However, if the benefit begins early, the amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age.

 

can qualify on your record for Medicare at age 65.

 

can receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount if they start receiving benefits at their full retirement age.

 

who is caring for your child who is also receiving benefits can receive the full one-half benefit amount no matter what his or her age is.

 

Your spouse would receive these benefits until your child reaches age 16. At that time, the child's benefits continue, but your spouse's benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits (age 62 or older) or survivors benefits as a widow or widower (age 60).

 

http://www.ssa.gov/

 

My placebo response is that she is eligible for YOUR benefits as you state. But she is eligible for HER OWN benefits after the 40 quarters. These 40 quarters can include quarters where she didn't work, but her husband did.

[rogerluli]

My laopo has been lately mis-informed by other wives about SS benefits that they would be entitled to. Evidently the erroneous conventional wisdom is that everyone must work for 10 years to qualify for benefits but it just ain't so. As the following from the SSA website clearly states, a spouse who has never worked still qualifies for 50% of her husband's benefit when she reaches full retirement age. When the husband dies (I always get a kick out of guys who talk about this by stating, "IF I DIE... ".I'm sorry babe it ain't optional... ) she is entitled to his full benefit...

 

Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse

 

can begin collecting the benefits as early as age 62. However, if the benefit begins early, the amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age.

 

can qualify on your record for Medicare at age 65.

 

can receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount if they start receiving benefits at their full retirement age.

 

who is caring for your child who is also receiving benefits can receive the full one-half benefit amount no matter what his or her age is.

 

Your spouse would receive these benefits until your child reaches age 16. At that time, the child's benefits continue, but your spouse's benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits (age 62 or older) or survivors benefits as a widow or widower (age 60).

 

http://www.ssa.gov/

 

My placebo response is that she is eligible for YOUR benefits as you state. But she is eligible for HER OWN benefits after the 40 quarters. These 40 quarters can include quarters where she didn't work, but her husband did.

 

Okay then...If Jiaying's income is higher than yours that will work out for her...

[lostinblue]

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10045.html

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10137.html#additional

 

For a little more light reading

Edited July 4, 2007 by lostinblue (see edit history)

[rogerluli]

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10137.html#additional

For a little more light reading

 

Yeah it can be a can of worms... This is one of the main reasons I feel safer having my wife become a USC before we live in China...It just removes another layer of bureaucratic nonsense...

[jim_julian]

Many of us here are divorced. Some (ahem) are divorced from American wives without any work history to speak of and evidently these ex-wives get half SS benefits based on the ex-husband's work history.

 

When these men finally blissfully slip into the Great Beyond while being held in the arms of their loving Chinese wife does said loving Chinese wife also become eligible for 50% of the now departed husband's SS benefit?

 

Thus there are two 50% claimants.

 

I suppose I could research it but I'm being a little lazy and it is probably of general interest.

[Randy W]

Many of us here are divorced. Some (ahem) are divorced from American wives without any work history to speak of and evidently these ex-wives get half SS benefits based on the ex-husband's work history.

 

When these men finally blissfully slip into the Great Beyond while being held in the arms of their loving Chinese wife does said loving Chinese wife also become eligible for 50% of the now departed husband's SS benefit?

 

Thus there are two 50% claimants.

 

I suppose I could research it but I'm being a little lazy and it is probably of general interest.

 

I believe it's 100% of the same credits you get while you are married to her. I think. In any event (I think again) her credits are independent of yours.

 

 

Entitlement on More than One Account

Edited July 5, 2007 by Randy W (see edit history)

[tywy_99]

Many of us here are divorced. Some (ahem) are divorced from American wives without any work history to speak of and evidently these ex-wives get half SS benefits based on the ex-husband's work history.

 

When these men finally blissfully slip into the Great Beyond while being held in the arms of their loving Chinese wife does said loving Chinese wife also become eligible for 50% of the now departed husband's SS benefit?

 

Thus there are two 50% claimants.

 

I suppose I could research it but I'm being a little lazy and it is probably of general interest.

 

I believe it's 100% of the same credits you get while you are married to her. I think. In any event (I think again) her credits are independent of yours.

Dealing with the Social Security Administration will be like dealing with the USCIS/DOS/NVC.

Going through the visa process, at least we all have the experience to "slay the beast"!

Good luck in any endeavers you embark on trying to figure out and get to the bottom of things with the SSA.

A bit of advice: Don't submit anything online to the SSA. Go see them yourself and talk to a real live person!

[SheLikesME?]

Many of us here are divorced. Some (ahem) are divorced from American wives without any work history to speak of and evidently these ex-wives get half SS benefits based on the ex-husband's work history.

 

When these men finally blissfully slip into the Great Beyond while being held in the arms of their loving Chinese wife does said loving Chinese wife also become eligible for 50% of the now departed husband's SS benefit?

 

Thus there are two 50% claimants.

 

I suppose I could research it but I'm being a little lazy and it is probably of general interest.

 

I believe it's 100% of the same credits you get while you are married to her. I think. In any event (I think again) her credits are independent of yours.

 

 

Entitlement on More than One Account

Jim, I tried to read all of Randy's post but let me throw out some personal experience.

 

My father was married to my mother for slightly over 10 YEARS.

 

My father remarried and died 31 years later.

 

My mother was already living on SS at my father's death and because she had been married more than 10 YEARS to the man her SS more than doubled.

 

My Step-Mom gets a little less than my Mom, but maybe that was due to my Father working for the railroad which is a different retirement package, but it can be rolled into SS which he did.

 

Of course both ladies will recieve a significant increase in SS when you "fly away", it just may not be the same exact amount and I have no idea why.

Edited July 5, 2007 by SheLikesME? (see edit history)

[SheLikesME?]

My laopo has been lately mis-informed by other wives about SS benefits that they would be entitled to. Evidently the erroneous conventional wisdom is that everyone must work for 10 years to qualify for benefits but it just ain't so. As the following from the SSA website clearly states, a spouse who has never worked still qualifies for 50% of her husband's benefit when she reaches full retirement age. When the husband dies (I always get a kick out of guys who talk about this by stating, "IF I DIE... ".I'm sorry babe it ain't optional... ) she is entitled to his full benefit...

 

Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse

 

can begin collecting the benefits as early as age 62. However, if the benefit begins early, the amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age.

These ladies need to "remain" married to the USC for 10 years in order to get the retirement, if any of them are contemplating divorce. (Divorce the poor dumb doudou before that and they don't get jack... )

 

If married and at death no problem.

[rogerluli]

My laopo has been lately mis-informed by other wives about SS benefits that they would be entitled to. Evidently the erroneous conventional wisdom is that everyone must work for 10 years to qualify for benefits but it just ain't so. As the following from the SSA website clearly states, a spouse who has never worked still qualifies for 50% of her husband's benefit when she reaches full retirement age. When the husband dies (I always get a kick out of guys who talk about this by stating, "IF I DIE... ".I'm sorry babe it ain't optional... ) she is entitled to his full benefit...

 

Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse

 

can begin collecting the benefits as early as age 62. However, if the benefit begins early, the amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age.

These ladies need to "remain" married to the USC for 10 years in order to get the retirement, if any of them are contemplating divorce. (Divorce the poor dumb doudou before that and they don't get jack... )

 

If married and at death no problem.

 

http://i18.tinypic.com/66x09cp.jpg

 

Did you mean JACK FRUIT Doug???

[SirLancelot]

Roger, does all of what you stated below apply to a house husband? of only a house wife?

 

If the wife worked and the husband never worked, will the husband get half benefits?

 

I'm always a little miffed when I read about benefits that only the women receive.

 

I'd have NO problems with these benefits if in a situation where the woman worked and the man stayed at home and never worked receives the same benefit.

 

My laopo has been lately mis-informed by other wives about SS benefits that they would be entitled to. Evidently the erroneous conventional wisdom is that everyone must work for 10 years to qualify for benefits but it just ain't so. As the following from the SSA website clearly states, a spouse who has never worked still qualifies for 50% of her husband's benefit when she reaches full retirement age. When the husband dies (I always get a kick out of guys who talk about this by stating, "IF I DIE... ".I'm sorry babe it ain't optional... ) she is entitled to his full benefit...

 

Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse

 

can begin collecting the benefits as early as age 62. However, if the benefit begins early, the amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age.

 

can qualify on your record for Medicare at age 65.

 

can receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount if they start receiving benefits at their full retirement age.

 

who is caring for your child who is also receiving benefits can receive the full one-half benefit amount no matter what his or her age is.

 

Your spouse would receive these benefits until your child reaches age 16. At that time, the child's benefits continue, but your spouse's benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits (age 62 or older) or survivors benefits as a widow or widower (age 60).

 

http://www.ssa.gov/

[Randy W]

The quote there seems to refer to "your spouse" and "he or she"

Edited July 6, 2007 by Randy W (see edit history)

[SirLancelot]

The quote there seems to refer to "your spouse" and "he or she"

 

 

I'm just confirming if indeed that's the case or Roger is simply using politically correct terminology.

[Randy W]

The quote there seems to refer to "your spouse" and "he or she"

 

 

I'm just confirming if indeed that's the case or Roger is simply using politically correct terminology.

 

 

Social Security Benefits Handbook