FEDERAL BENEFITS
SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU
The US Social Security program provides insurance against the loss of income due
to retirement, death or disability. The US system is relative new compared to
many European national pension systems.
The Social Security system was created in 1935 and has since undergone many
changes. Several significant events in history have shaped it; such as
population shifts from the countryside into big cities, longer life expectancy
and the steady decline in the practice of extended families. Lastly, it’s the
fact that more and more workers are spending their careers in more than one
country.
To become eligible for a Social Security benefits, a worker generally has to
work at least 10 years in the United States. However, social security agencies
from around the world have recognized that there are a growing number of workers
who have spent their careers working in more than one country. Thus, many of
these workers have found that they do not qualify for benefits under the normal
rules. For this group of workers, social security agencies have entered into
“totalization agreements” whereby each country can use another country’s work
record to qualify the worker for benefits from one or both countries. For a list
of countries that have an agreement with the United States please go to
http://www.ssa.gov/international/status.html
For workers who fall under the totalization agreement, only 1 ˝ years of work in
the United States is needed to qualify for benefits. In addition, the worker’s
spouse and young children, under certain conditions, may also qualify for
benefits. Lastly, the worker and/or dependents do not have to be US citizens to
qualify for benefits.
To apply for benefits, please contact your nearest Embassy.
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