Social Security

I think in Davis' case it's not life changing. A few extra beer tokens in your wallet every month has next to no impact, so not worth worrying about.

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Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Davis, you can actually go online and look at SS website to see all you records. All you need to do is open a personal account by giving SS# and user name along with a password. You can print out all your records that way.

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Thanks. As Chas said, not worth the effort. I'm getting what they worked out, and fine by me.

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Originally Posted by Mr Earl

When you pay in your SS taxes, the dollar has a certain value. When you reach retirement age and draw out the dollar is weaker and buys less in the USA.

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So under the gold standard, social security benefits were better with respect to the cost of living than they are today? Not sure that argument holds any water.

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Originally Posted by Humbert

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Originally Posted by Mr Earl

When you pay in your SS taxes, the dollar has a certain value. When you reach retirement age and draw out the dollar is weaker and buys less in the USA.

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So under the gold standard, social security benefits were better with respect to the cost of living than they are today? Not sure that argument holds any water.

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There are cost of living adjustments. My pittance has gone up considerably over the years, and I haven't made a contribution during the same period of time.

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Originally Posted by Humbert

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Originally Posted by Mr Earl

When you pay in your SS taxes, the dollar has a certain value. When you reach retirement age and draw out the dollar is weaker and buys less in the USA.

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So under the gold standard, social security benefits were better with respect to the cost of living than they are today? Not sure that argument holds any water.

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The USA wen't off the gold standard in 1933.
SS started paying out in 1940.

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Originally Posted by Mr Earl

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Originally Posted by Humbert

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Originally Posted by Mr Earl

When you pay in your SS taxes, the dollar has a certain value. When you reach retirement age and draw out the dollar is weaker and buys less in the USA.

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So under the gold standard, social security benefits were better with respect to the cost of living than they are today? Not sure that argument holds any water.

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The USA wen't off the gold standard in 1933.
SS started paying out in 1940.

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In a classic sense but the dollar was pegged to gold until 1971 and dollars could be exchanged for their value in gold until then.

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Originally Posted by fishlocker

he said you can pay back all SS you've drawn from 62 to 67 and then get the full benefit amount.

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Don't think that is true. Once you commit ... that's it.

Also, it's true that 40 quarters, or credits, is what qualifies you for SS ... but, the computation in fact is 35 years for full vesting. Zero is plugged into the formula for every year worked under 35 years.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

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Originally Posted by fishlocker

he said you can pay back all SS you've drawn from 62 to 67 and then get the full benefit amount.

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Don't think that is true. Once you commit ... that's it.

Also, it's true that 40 quarters, or credits, is what qualifies you for SS ... but, the computation in fact is 35 years for full vesting. Zero is plugged into the formula for every year worked under 35 years.

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I have about 15 years of zeros plugged into mine, about working and paying into SS since say, age 16 part-time, and about 22 full-time.

I will pay into SS again in the US, but I do understand that my monthly payment to me is shrinking.

^ What we're not talking about is how the decision to start drawing SS also affects what our widow will draw once we kick the bucket. And since this is a Thai based forum, with people who have Thai spouses, it's a good time to remind people that unless your wife became a US citizen, or has lived in the states for 5 consecutive years, they won't be able to tap into your SS benefits as widows.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

^ What we're not talking about is how the decision to start drawing SS also affects what our widow will draw once we kick the bucket. And since this is a Thai based forum, with people who have Thai spouses, it's a good time to remind people that unless your wife became a US citizen, or has lived in the states for 5 consecutive years, they won't be able to tap into your SS benefits as widows.

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Yes, I know some guys that went back to the US with the foreign missus for the very reason (the guys were getting on in age).

So US citizen or live in the US for 5 years - consecutively, correct?

I assume she needs a green card also.

Can the wife draw SS death benefits back in Thailand with an annual cola after the husband dies?

Or, does she have to remain in the US?

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Don't think that is true. Once you commit ... that's it.

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You are correct.

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Originally Posted by Black Heart

So US citizen or live in the US for 5 years - consecutively, correct?

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Yes, that is my understanding.

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Originally Posted by Black Heart

Can the wife draw SS death benefits back in Thailand with an annual cola after the husband dies?

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Yes. Even if she lets her green card expire and can't return to the states.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

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Originally Posted by Black Heart

So US citizen or live in the US for 5 years - consecutively, correct?

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Yes, that is my understanding.

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Originally Posted by Black Heart

Can the wife draw SS death benefits back in Thailand with an annual cola after the husband dies?

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Yes. Even if she lets her green card expire and can't return to the states.

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Correct again on both counts.

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Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

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Originally Posted by Black Heart

So US citizen or live in the US for 5 years - consecutively, correct?

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Yes, that is my understanding.

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Originally Posted by Black Heart

Can the wife draw SS death benefits back in Thailand with an annual cola after the husband dies?

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Yes. Even if she lets her green card expire and can't return to the states.

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Correct again on both counts.

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OK.

I have wondered about the current lady I'm with. Her motivations, I mean.

Many foreign women are well aware of this SS benefit stuff. At times, more knowledgeable than native born American citizens.

^ Maybe that's a good sign. I've heard many horror stories of widows showing up at the Retired Affairs Office at JUSMAGTHAI in BKK looking for help to claim their SS benefits that their deceased American husband had promised them.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

^ Maybe that's a good sign. I've heard many horror stories of widows showing up at the Retired Affairs Office at JUSMAGTHAI in BKK looking for help to claim their SS benefits that their deceased American husband had promised them.

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I think American male citizens should try to figure out if there marriage is sincere before doing such a thing.

I've known a few friends that realized that marriage was of convenience.

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Originally Posted by Black Heart

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

^ Maybe that's a good sign. I've heard many horror stories of widows showing up at the Retired Affairs Office at JUSMAGTHAI in BKK looking for help to claim their SS benefits that their deceased American husband had promised them.

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I think American male citizens should try to figure out if there marriage is sincere before doing such a thing.

I've known a few friends that realized that marriage was of convenience.

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These are usually older widows. Married to the American for 10, 20 or more years. The deceased American either didn't know how the system works or just flat out lied about it.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

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Originally Posted by Black Heart

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

^ Maybe that's a good sign. I've heard many horror stories of widows showing up at the Retired Affairs Office at JUSMAGTHAI in BKK looking for help to claim their SS benefits that their deceased American husband had promised them.

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I think American male citizens should try to figure out if there marriage is sincere before doing such a thing.

I've known a few friends that realized that marriage was of convenience.

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These are usually older widows. Married to the American for 10, 20 or more years. The deceased American either didn't know how the system works or just flat out lied about it.

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Yes.

BTW, how does a non-citizen's SS green expire?

And, how long does it take to expire?


Thanks if you know.

^ They're good for 10 years and then must be renewed. Think my first wife was living in the states on a green card for over 25 years before she became a US citizen.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

^ They're good for 10 years and then must be renewed. Think my first wife was living in the states on a green card for over 25 years before she became a US citizen.

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Cheers for the info.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

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Originally Posted by fishlocker

he said you can pay back all SS you've drawn from 62 to 67 and then get the full benefit amount.

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Don't think that is true. Once you commit ... that's it.

Also, it's true that 40 quarters, or credits, is what qualifies you for SS ... but, the computation in fact is 35 years for full vesting. Zero is plugged into the formula for every year worked under 35 years.

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Sorry Storekeeper, but you are wrong. The reason I know is that I opted to draw SS and 62 and after several payments were made I changed my mind. SS said as long as I payed back all the payments already made, the clock would start over. I paid all the received payments back and finally filed at 64 1/2 years old.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

^ What we're not talking about is how the decision to start drawing SS also affects what our widow will draw once we kick the bucket. And since this is a Thai based forum, with people who have Thai spouses, it's a good time to remind people that unless your wife became a US citizen, or has lived in the states for 5 consecutive years, they won't be able to tap into your SS benefits as widows.

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Have to correct you again. If your Thai wife expects to collect any survivor's benefits from SS, yes she will need to have lived in the US 5 years but they do not have to be consecutive. I found this out the hard way when I went to Bangkok to get my wife a SS card. No go and then they said I needed to contact the PI SS office to get a copy of the reg. It was all news to me.

There are some things SS does not publisize. One fact is that if a SS recipient has a child under the age of 18, they qualify for 50% of the max payment to the recipient. I now have 50% more SS due to the fact that I have a 5 year old son who holds both a Thai and US passport. It is not a small amount either, which helps.

^ In regards to both of your points I hope you're right. Not so much the first one in my case but the second one as that will mean we only need 3 more years. But just as an FYI both of the claims I made came directly from the SSA website so if there is additional guidance that's not publicized then that means some bum gouge is being put out at the RAO in BKK.

Edit # 1: You are correct about starting and stopping social security if you pay back the benefits. But, the SSA link states if 12 months have lapsed you cannot.

Edit # 2: You are correct about the 5 year residency requirement. It doesn't have to be consecutive.

I have to thank you for the second one. Being corrected on that eases my worries as I plan for my next retirement. Dang ... I can go back to Thailand 2 years earlier than planned!

I owe you multiple greens ... This is a huge change for us. Dude ... I can go back to Thailand when I'm 58 instead of 60 or 62.

I am glad it worked out in your favor Storekeeper. The extra money for my son has really helped me as well. Too bad they don't publicize these things.

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Originally Posted by Storekeeper

I can go back to Thailand when I'm 58 instead of 60 or 62.

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Since you will be drawing benefits when living in Thailand you should contact the SSA office in the Philippines directly with your questions. They are extremely helpful and their service is highly personalized.