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Foreign Pensions and Social Security

Foreigners who claim Social Security benefits in America can be confused by the rules and how they apply to them.
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Foreign Pensions and Social Security
Foreigners who have worked in the United States can apply for Social Security. Mehaniq/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
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I’ve commented many times before that Social Security is a global phenomenon. Almost every country on the planet has a social security system in place for its citizens. (And many countries had social insurance plans long before we got around to implementing our program in 1935.)

In our global economy, it is not uncommon for people to have lived and worked in two or more countries and thus potentially qualify for social security benefits from different countries. How a foreign pension may interact with U.S. Social Security benefits is the subject of today’s column.

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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