Foreign Pensions

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Can my spouse collect spousal benefits if I am collecting a non-covered foreign pension and U.S. Social Security?

Full question: Having worked 32 years France and 7 years in the US, I am getting small US Social Security benefits ($600) and my foreign pension from France. Can my wife apply for SSA benefits as a spouse (which means she could get up to 50% my benefits, or $300), and would my French pension…

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Since my spouse has a non-covered foreign pension, will she be subject to the WEP or GPO for benefits on my record?

Full question: Hello Martha, my wife has lived her whole life in Japan and has a small Japanese pension in the near future. The pension system in Japan is mandatory it is run by the government regardless of where you work. Anyways we think she will get about $1000 a month once she retires. The…

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What should I do if the Social Security Administration is using the GPO against me despite having a foreign pension?

Full question: SSA are refusing to acknowledge that my U.K. pension does not trigger the GPO when I applied for survivor benefits. I have highlighted the relevant section to them. What should be my next step? Hi there, Foreign pensions are not considered as government pensions for purposes of the GPO provision, as specified in…

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Will my deceased husband’s foreign pension affect my survivor benefit?

Full question: I, the beneficiary, am eligible to receive a part of my deceased husband’s UK widow’s clergy pension. Will it affect my survivor Social Security benefit?. Hello, No, it will not for two reasons. If you are collecting a pension benefit based on someone else’s earnings (your husband), the Government Pension Offset (GPO) rule…

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What is the difference between the two pension rules, WEP and GPO, and how do they affect the benefits I am receiving?

Full question: How can I claim the difference of spousal payment due to WEP? At my full age I filed for Social Security, but due to a foreign pension they reduced my benefit amount, that is under 1/2 my spouse’s PIA. They should add diff of spousal benefit, but they say by GPO no spousal…

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Will my pension from the United Kingdom affect my U. S. Social Security survivor benefits?

Full question: Prior to becoming a US citizen I lived and worked in the UK and paid National Insurance contributions. My husband passed away after we had been living in the US for a number of years and I receive survivor benefits (at age 63). At FRA I think I would qualify for a UK…

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