Will I qualify for ex-spouse survivor benefits living overseas if my deceased ex-husband worked in Social Security?

Based on what you've shared, you may indeed qualify for survivor benefits on your ex-husband's record. The requirements are: 1) you were married for at least 10 years (you were married 18 years - check!), 2) you haven't remarried before age 60 (you haven't - check!), and 3) you're at least age 60 (you'll need to wait 5 more years). Living overseas doesn't disqualify you, but it does complicate things. The SSA has Federal Benefits Units (FBUs) in US embassies/consulates in many countries. You should check if there's one in your country - they can provide information and help with applications. You can find the list here: https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/foreign.htm If there's no FBU in your country, you can try contacting the nearest US embassy. They might be able to help or direct you to resources.

Survivor benifits r different than regular ones. My cousin moved to Portugal and had HUGE problems getting her checks! Make sure u check if ur country has an agreement with USA for SS payments. Some countries cant get them!!!

I went through something similar when my ex passed away (we were married 22 years). I was living in Thailand at the time. The MOST FRUSTRATING thing was trying to call SSA from overseas!!! Hours on hold only to get disconnected. I finally used a service called Claimyr to get through to an actual person at SSA - it was a lifesaver! Here's their website: claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I got through to SSA, they were actually pretty helpful about explaining my options. Since I wasn't 60 yet either, they couldn't start payments, but they could tell me approximately what I'd receive. If you're not close to an FBU, this might be your best option.

Just wondering - are your kids receiving any benefits? If they're under 18 or disabled they might be getting benefits and that could help you figure out what yours might be. My sister's kids got benefits when their dad died.

I'm sorry about your ex-husband passing away. The overseas situation definitely makes things complicated. In addition to what others have mentioned, I wanted to add that the benefit amount you'll receive at 60 would be reduced because you'd be taking it before your Full Retirement Age (FRA). As a survivor, you can take benefits as early as 60, but they're reduced by approximately 28.5% from what you'd get at your FRA. To give you a rough idea, survivor benefits are generally 100% of what your ex was receiving (or would have received) if you wait until your FRA. Taking them at 60 reduces that to about 71.5%. Also, since you mentioned your citizenship status - you don't have to be a US citizen to receive survivor benefits, but there are different rules for non-citizens living abroad. If you've since become a citizen of another country, there may be additional requirements or restrictions depending on your current citizenship and residence.

Dealing with Social Security from overseas is indeed challenging. Here's my recommendation based on helping several clients in similar situations: 1. First, try to obtain your deceased ex-husband's Social Security Statement. This shows his earning history and estimated benefits. Your adult children might be able to help with this if they're in touch with his family. 2. Contact the Federal Benefits Unit serving your country. They can help you understand your potential benefits and the application process. Unlike regular SSA offices, FBUs specialize in helping Americans and eligible non-citizens abroad. 3. Prepare documentation: marriage certificate, divorce decree, his death certificate, and your birth certificate at minimum. 4. Be aware that some countries have tax treaties with the US that affect how survivor benefits are taxed, so you'll want to understand the tax implications in your country of residence. 5. At age 59½, begin the application process. Starting early gives you time to resolve any documentation issues before your eligibility at 60. And yes, you can absolutely get an estimate before turning 60. The FBU can help with this, or if you use a service to reach SSA by phone, they can provide estimates based on his earnings record.

My mom went thru this exact thing! If ur not a US citizen and never became one, SSA has what they call "alien non-payment provisions" that might affect u. But since u were married to a US citizen for so long u probably qualify for exemptions. Def check with FBU like others said. Also remember SS survivor benefits can start at 60 but retirement is 62, they're different!

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I feel much more equipped to move forward now. I've made a list of next steps: 1) Contact my ex's sister about his SS records, 2) Make an appointment with the FBU in my country, 3) Look into that Claimyr service if I need to call SSA directly, and 4) Research the tax treaties between my country and the US. I'll start gathering all the documentation mentioned - birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, and his death certificate. I still have 5 years before I turn 60, but I want to understand what I'll be eligible for so I can plan accordingly. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences.

I'm sorry for your loss. Your situation sounds very similar to what my aunt went through when her ex-husband passed away. She was also living overseas (in Canada) and had to navigate the survivor benefits process from abroad. One thing that really helped her was creating a timeline of all the important dates - marriage date, divorce date, his death date, and when she'll turn 60. Having this organized made it much easier when she finally got through to SSA. Also, since you mentioned your ex-husband worked in Social Security, his earnings record should be well-documented in the system, which is actually a good thing for getting estimates. When my aunt finally got her estimate, they were able to pull up his full work history pretty easily. The 5-year wait until you're 60 actually gives you a good advantage - you have time to get everything sorted out properly without rushing. Many people don't realize they need to start the process early, especially when dealing with international paperwork. I'd also suggest keeping a detailed record of all your communications with SSA, FBUs, or any other agencies. My aunt kept a simple spreadsheet with dates, who she spoke with, and what was discussed. It saved her a lot of headaches later when she had to reference previous conversations.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Navigating Social Security benefits from overseas is definitely challenging, but you're asking all the right questions. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - since you only worked in the US for 5 years and don't have enough credits for your own benefits, the survivor benefits on your ex-husband's record will likely be your primary source of Social Security income. This makes it even more important to get accurate estimates now so you can plan accordingly. Also, regarding the benefit amount - survivor benefits are based on what your ex-husband was receiving or would have received at his full retirement age. Since he worked for Social Security, he likely had a good earnings record which should result in a decent benefit amount. The FBU should be able to give you a pretty accurate estimate once they pull his earnings history. One more tip: when you do contact the FBU, ask them about the "Government Pension Offset" (GPO) and "Windfall Elimination Provision" (WEP) to make sure these don't apply to your situation. Since your ex worked for Social Security (a government job), it's worth checking if these provisions might affect your benefits. Good luck with everything - you've got a great plan and plenty of time to get it all sorted out!

I'm really sorry for your loss. This is such a complex situation, but I'm glad you're thinking ahead and planning for your future. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to consider reaching out to a Social Security disability attorney or elder law attorney who has experience with international cases. Many offer free consultations and can help you understand the nuances of claiming benefits while living abroad. They often have established relationships with FBUs and know exactly what documentation you'll need. Also, since you mentioned your children are all adults and US citizens, they might be able to help you navigate some of the US-based requirements if needed. Sometimes having someone stateside who can make calls during business hours or pick up documents can be really helpful. The fact that you have 5 years to prepare is actually a blessing in disguise - most people don't have that luxury of time to get everything organized properly. You're being really smart about starting this research now rather than scrambling when you turn 60. One last thought - if your home country has a US embassy with an FBU, they might also offer informational seminars or workshops about Social Security benefits for Americans abroad. It could be worth checking their website or calling to see if they have any scheduled events that might be helpful.

I'm really sorry for your loss. This thread has been incredibly informative - it's amazing how much helpful information everyone has shared! One additional resource I wanted to mention is the Social Security Administration's "Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States" publication (SSA Publication No. 05-10137). It has detailed information about receiving benefits while living abroad and covers many of the issues that have been discussed here like totalization agreements and payment restrictions by country. You can find it on the SSA website or ask the FBU to provide you with a copy when you meet with them. It's written specifically for people in your situation and might answer some questions you haven't even thought to ask yet. Also, since you're planning 5 years ahead, you might want to set a reminder to check back on any rule changes annually. Social Security rules can change, and international payment policies sometimes get updated. The FBU can help you stay informed about any changes that might affect your situation. Your methodical approach to planning this out is really admirable - your future self will definitely thank you for being so thorough now!