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weekly schedule.
Social
Security and Medicare
Benefits for Expatriates
QUESTION: Your book speaks to expatriation. It says social security
benefits are subject to income tax. This implies social security
benefits are paid after one expatriates. Is this true? The
government tries to assure us that the money is ours as we have paid
into the "trust fund" but something tells me they wouldn't honor that
pledge if one expatriated. What are the facts about social security
benefits after expatriation? I presume Medicare is out of the question
if one expatriates.
REPLY: Social Security benefits are payable to U.S. citizens and
green card holders who are living and working outside the U.S.
Benefits are also payable to citizens and green card holders who
choose to retire in other countries and to nonresident aliens who have
lived and worked in the U.S. long enough to qualify for benefits.
However, I was not able to find any information on the Social Security
web site regarding any restrictions or special treatment for former
citizens or former green card holders. See Social Security –
International Issues ( http://www.ssa.gov/international/ ) and
Payments While Outside the U.S. ( http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10137.html )
and Social Security benefits for non-citizens
As for Medicare, it’s my understanding that benefits are only payable
to certain qualified medical care facilities and professionals. It
seems very unlikely that any foreign facilities or providers would be
eligible. But if a former citizen were to return to the U.S. for
medical treatment at an approved facility or from a qualified
provider, it might be that the benefits are still available. I was not
able to find any information about the subject on the Medicare web
site at Medicare FAQs (
http://questions.medicare.gov/cgi-bin/medicare.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php
)
Vern Jacobs