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Hernando Today

Negotiating Social Security Agreements With Foreign Countries

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By ADON TAFT

Hernando Today

Published: June 10, 2008

Q. – Although I am a Swedish woman, I live in the United States. I would like to know more about the agreement about Social Security between the U.S. and Sweden.
C.S., Spring Hill
A. – The United States has agreements on Social Security with Canada and 15 European countries: Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Luxemburg and Ireland.
You may obtain a copy of the agreement between the U.S. and Sweden by writing to the Social Security Administration Office of International Policy, P.O. Box 17741, Baltimore, MD 21235, U.S.A.
In general, the agreements with all the other countries combine an individual's work record in each country and divide the payment of benefits between the two countries. The benefit check itself is written by only one government.

Q. –My husband and I had been married for 12 ½ years when I was widowed at the age of 44. That was 14 years ago. Social Security contacted me at that time and told me that I should call them when I turned 60 because I would qualify for a widow's benefit. I also was told that, if a person was married more than one time, she would have a choice of whichever Social Security benefit would be higher based on the work record of each husband or my own.
I recently retired to Florida and wonder if I still qualify to collect on my late husband's Social Security? Can I collect at 60 or 62? Since he was retired at the time of his passing, do I qualify for what he received at that time or what he would be receiving now?
Ten years ago, I remarried and assumed that instead of age 60 I might have to wait until age 62 to receive benefits. Although I have worked my entire life, I always have planned on taking my late husband's Social Security.
B.I., Spring Hill
A. – You obviously misunderstood what the representative of the Social Security Administration told you. You have a choice between the work records of two men only if both died. Since you apparently are married now to your second husband, as far as Social Security is concerned, you no longer are considered the widow of your first husband.
At age 62, you could receive a retirement benefit based on your own work record or, if it would be higher, a spousal benefit based on your present husband's work record if he already is receiving a social Security retirement benefit. Any benefit you receive before full retirement age, presently 66, is reduced a fraction of a percentage point for each month earlier than that age you are when you begin receiving the benefit.

Adon Taft is a resident of Brooksville. If you have questions about any issues related to aging, except medical conditions, please write to Life to the Fullest, Hernando Today, 15299 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, Fla. 34613, or send e-mail to adontaft@yahoo.

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