Does foreign work count toward my 35 years for Social Security? Lost my international tax IDs

Yes, you can definitely count those years toward your eligibility requirements through the totalization agreements! However, there's an important distinction - the foreign work helps you qualify for benefits (by meeting the 40 credits minimum), but those earnings don't actually get factored into your benefit calculation amount. Your payment will still be based only on your US earnings record, with zeros for any missing years. As for documentation, you'll need to file form SSA-308 (Self-Employment/Optional Coverage Abroad). You should also gather whatever proof you have - old employment contracts, tax documents, pay stubs, etc. SSA will work with those countries' social security offices to verify your work history. You don't necessarily need the tax ID numbers, but having them speeds up the process.

my cousin had same situtation with work in Italy, he just had to go to the SSA office with whatever documents he could find + his passport that had entry/exit stamps. they helped him fill out all the paperwork there. took about 6 months to process everything tho so start early!!!

I went through this exact process after working in France for 12 years. Here's what you need to know: 1. You'll need to file form SSA-308 along with your retirement application. 2. For documentation, gather anything you can: employment contracts, residence permits, work visas, old pay stubs, bank deposits, tax records. The more evidence, the better. 3. The foreign tax ID numbers are helpful but NOT absolutely required. SSA works directly with the foreign social security agencies to verify your record. 4. Important correction to what someone else said - under totalization, your benefit calculation can actually be affected. They use a special formula called the "proportional formula benefit" where they calculate what your benefit would be if all your combined work (US and foreign) had been under US Social Security, then they multiply that by the fraction of your career spent in the US system. 5. Start this process at least 6-8 months before you plan to retire. It takes time for the international verification. Hope this helps!

DONT GET YOUR HOPES UP!!! The SSA is TERRIBLE at handling these international cases. I worked in Canada for 9 years and it took them 14 MONTHS to verify my work history. They kept losing my paperwork and giving me different answers every time I called. Make copies of EVERYTHING and keep detailed notes of every conversation including names and badge numbers of who you talk to!!!!

I had a similar issue with my work history in Portugal. I struggled for weeks trying to get through to someone at SSA who understood totalization agreements. Every time I called, I'd wait for hours only to get disconnected or told to call back. Finally, I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in under 5 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I got through to an actual person who understood international agreements, they guided me through exactly what forms I needed and helped me schedule an in-person appointment at my local office with someone who specializes in international cases. Saved me so much frustration!

i think ur overthinking this honstly. my husband worked in korea for like 8 yrs and when he applied last yr all he showed was his old visa and they took care of the rest. but ya, like others said, it takes foreeeeeever to process lol. just apply and see what they say, they'll tell u if they need more stuff.

My two cents - I worked in France and Chile (4 and 3 years respectively). I didn't have my foreign tax numbers either. The most important thing was proving I ACTUALLY worked there (contracts, some old pay documents I found, and funny enough, my old work badges I'd kept as souvenirs). The process was definitely confusing at times, but it worked out. One weird thing was that Chile's agreement with the US is different from France's. Some totalization agreements are more beneficial than others in how they calculate the benefits. The rules aren't standardized between countries. I'd recommend looking up the specific agreements with Spain and Germany to understand the exact terms. Also, I learned that you have to actually file for benefits in EACH country you worked in. The SSA won't automatically coordinate everything - you have to initiate claims with each country's system (though SSA can help guide you through that process).

One more important thing to know: timing matters for totalization claims. You should coordinate with an SSA representative who specializes in international agreements before filing your retirement application. In some cases, it's better to file for your foreign benefits first, and in other situations, it's better to file for US benefits first. The order can affect your total combined benefits. You'll want to make an appointment with SSA and specifically request someone experienced with international cases.

just remembered my cousin had to get like an official record from Italy showing his work history there. took him forever to figure out which Italian govt office to contact. might be worth researching who handles work records in Spain/Germany now so ur prepared

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I'm going to start by gathering whatever documentation I can find from my time abroad. Then I'll make an appointment specifically requesting someone with international expertise. I'll also research the specific totalization agreements with Spain and Germany to understand what I'm eligible for. Sounds like I should plan for this to take 6+ months, so I'll start well before I plan to actually retire. Really appreciate all the insights!