Social Security survivor benefits as non-citizen - will moving abroad stop payments?

I went through something similar when my husband passed away in 2022. As a fellow immigrant (though I'm a citizen now), I completely understand your stress! After going back and forth with Social Security literally eight times, I finally got accurate information. From what I learned, if you remain a green card holder and leave the US for more than 6 months, your survivor benefits WILL stop. This is because you've abandoned permanent residency status. The citizenship route would definitely protect your benefits - they don't stop payments to citizens living abroad. I was also told that foreign pensions CAN reduce survivor benefits through something called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO). How much depends on your specific amounts. I was having the WORST time getting through to anyone at SSA who could help me understand international benefit rules - until I tried this service called Claimyr. It got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - it made a huge difference for me!

I want to clarify some technical points here that might help you make a decision: 1. For non-US citizens who are receiving survivor benefits, the rules about living abroad vary depending on which country you're in. Germany has a totalization agreement with the US, which means different rules apply compared to countries without agreements. 2. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) is what applies to survivor benefits when you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security. This typically reduces survivor benefits by 2/3 of your foreign pension amount. 3. If you do decide to apply for US citizenship, you would be able to receive your survivor benefits indefinitely while living abroad, with no time restrictions. 4. One option is to apply for your survivor benefits now, begin receiving them, then apply for citizenship before leaving the US. I recommend getting this information in writing from SSA rather than relying on verbal conversations. Request a formal written determination about your specific international situation.

my mom went through similar when dad died. dont trust what they tell u at the office!!!! they told mom survivor checks would keep coming if she moved back to philippines but they STOPPED after 4 months and it was a NIGHTMARE getting them back. took over a year!!! get citizenship first before u go ANYWHERE or ur asking for trouble!!!!

You're definitely in a complicated situation, but I think I can provide some factual information to help you: Regarding international payments: As a non-citizen, your payments will generally stop after you've been outside the US for 6 consecutive calendar months. However, there are exceptions based on totalization agreements with specific countries. Germany does have such an agreement with the US. Regarding the pension offset: Yes, the Government Pension Offset (GPO) will likely reduce your survivor benefits by 2/3 of your German pension amount. So if your German pension is €450/month (roughly $500), your survivor benefit would be reduced by about $333/month. One often-overlooked detail: If you became a US citizen, you could receive your full survivor benefits (minus the GPO reduction) anywhere in the world indefinitely. I recommend speaking with an SSA Technical Expert specifically (not just any claims representative) by calling the main number and requesting someone who specializes in international benefits.

Just want to throw out there that I went thru HELL trying to get accurate info about international SS payments. Every person told me something different. I ended up gettig a lawyer who specializes in Social Security issues cause I was moving to Canada. Best $500 I ever spent. She filed all the right paperwork and made sure everything was documented correctly. Worth considering if you're making such a big life decision!

I'm puzzled by some of these responses... The GPO and WEP rules are complex, but they don't always work the way people think. First, about citizenship: YES, becoming a US citizen would protect your benefits while living abroad. That's clear. About the German pension: The GPO reduction (2/3 of your foreign pension) applies to survivor benefits when you receive a pension based on work NOT covered by US Social Security taxes. Since your German pension is from work not covered by US SS taxes, this will reduce your survivor benefits. What's crucial here is TIMING. If you're planning to move back to Germany permanently, you might consider: 1. Apply for US citizenship first 2. Apply for survivor benefits 3. Then move to Germany 4. When you reach 67, report your German pension to SSA This sequence maximizes your benefits while ensuring you don't lose them by abandoning permanent residency status. The citizenship process takes time though, so factor that into your planning.

My friend lost her survivor benfeits when she moved back to Germany bc she dint become citizen first. BIG MISTAKE! They told her same thing, different answers evry time she called. Now she get nothing from USA after working here for 25 years!!! GET THE CITIZENSHIP FIRST!!!!

To answer your question about citizenship processing times - currently it's taking about 8-12 months from application to oath ceremony for most straightforward cases. There's also the option of requesting expedited processing if you have compelling circumstances. Regarding international benefit questions, there's a specific SSA department that handles these cases. When you call, ask specifically for the "Office of International Operations" or someone who specializes in "international benefits under totalization agreements." Also important: if you do decide to get your citizenship first, you don't necessarily need to delay applying for survivor benefits. You can apply for the survivor benefits now (to establish your entitlement) while simultaneously pursuing citizenship. Then if you decide to move after becoming a citizen, your benefits will continue uninterrupted.

sorry 1 more thing!! make sure when u apply for ss benefits you tell them about the german pension even if u dont get it yet!! my uncle didnt tell them and got hit with huge overpayment notice later. they made him pay back like $17,000!!!! complete nightmare

I was in a really similar situation (though with Canada not Germany). When I finally got thru to someone knowledgeable at SSA, they told me the most important fact: the rules for non-citizens receiving benefits abroad are different depending on which specific country you're moving to! There's a whole SSA publication about it called "Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States" that lists all the different country rules. Definitely worth reading before making any decisions.

I'm a retired Social Security claims specialist and want to add some clarity to help with your decision. The confusion you're experiencing at your local office is unfortunately common because international benefit rules are complex and not all representatives are trained on them. Here are the key facts for your situation: **Germany-specific rules:** As others mentioned, the US-Germany totalization agreement does provide some protections, but as a green card holder (not citizen), your payments will still stop after 6 months abroad if you abandon permanent residency. **Citizenship timeline:** The naturalization process typically takes 8-14 months currently. You can apply for survivor benefits while your citizenship application is pending - this actually gives you the best of both worlds. **GPO calculation:** Your German pension will reduce your survivor benefits by exactly 2/3 of the German pension amount. So if you receive €450/month (~$500), your survivor benefit gets reduced by about $333/month. **Critical tip:** When you apply for survivor benefits, you MUST report your future German pension entitlement even though you won't receive it until age 67. This prevents overpayment issues later. My recommendation: Start both processes now - apply for citizenship AND survivor benefits simultaneously. This protects you regardless of which decision you make about relocating. Get everything documented in writing from SSA's Office of International Operations (ask specifically for them when you call).

I'm dealing with a very similar situation as my wife (also German) and I are considering moving back to Europe after she retires. One thing that really helped us was getting a consultation with an immigration attorney who specializes in both citizenship and Social Security issues - they were able to explain how the timing of everything works together. What I learned that might help you: you can actually start your citizenship application even before applying for survivor benefits. The USCIS processing times have been pretty consistent lately at around 10-12 months, and having that citizenship certificate in hand before you make any moves abroad gives you complete peace of mind. Also, regarding the GPO reduction - I was told by an SSA Technical Expert that the reduction is calculated using the U.S. dollar equivalent of your foreign pension at the time you start receiving it, not when you first report it. So exchange rate fluctuations could affect the exact amount of reduction. The most important thing I learned: document EVERYTHING. Every phone call, every visit to the SSA office, every piece of advice you get. Keep detailed records with dates and names because if there are any issues later, you'll have a paper trail to refer back to.

I'm a naturalization attorney who frequently works with clients in similar situations, and I want to emphasize something that hasn't been fully addressed here: the importance of maintaining your green card status WHILE pursuing citizenship. If you're planning to leave the US for an extended period before your citizenship is finalized, you'll need to apply for a re-entry permit (Form I-131) BEFORE you leave. This allows you to stay abroad for up to 2 years without abandoning your permanent residency. Without this, leaving for 6+ months could indeed jeopardize both your green card AND your pending citizenship application. Regarding the naturalization process for someone in your situation: at 60, you may qualify for certain accommodations during the civics test if you have difficulty with English due to age and length of permanent residency. Also, make sure you maintain continuous residence requirements - generally you can't be outside the US for more than 6 months during the citizenship application process without risking denial. The timing sequence I'd recommend: 1) Apply for citizenship now, 2) Apply for re-entry permit if you plan to travel, 3) Apply for survivor benefits, 4) Only make permanent relocation plans after citizenship is secured. This protects all your options. Your SSA benefits strategy is sound, but don't let the citizenship process get derailed by premature travel plans. Both processes can work together if properly coordinated.