Originally published June 30 2005
Answers about current Social Security benefits and eligibility
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
This article in Fort Wayne News describes several case in which Canadian citizens are eligible for social security benefits upon the death of a spouse or parent, while a citizen may not be able to collect a lump-sum death benefit if not living with the worker at the time of death.
Q: I recently met with my insurance agent and a question came up that we couldn't answer.
I am a U.S. resident, but my 9-year-old son has been living in Canada with his mother for the past eight years.
Can he collect Social Security survivor benefits if I pass away, even though he's been living outside the U.S. for most of his life?
A: If all the requirements for entitlement to survivors' benefits are met (his relationship to you, younger than 18 and unmarried), your son could receive benefits if he is living in Canada.
The Social Security Act provides that monthly benefits cannot be paid to beneficiaries after they have been outside the United States for more than six consecutive calendar months unless they meet an exception to this provision.
As a U.S. or a Canadian citizen, your son would meet an exception and he could receive benefits if he is living in any country to which we can send benefits.
However, if he is not a citizen of the United States or Canada and moves to another country, we would need more information about his citizenship and where he was living before telling you whether he could receive benefits.
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