Legal immigrants in the United States can access Social Security benefits and benefits.
To be hired under any legal scheme, legal immigrants need to process a Social Security number (SSN). Through the SSN, the employer reports the employee's earnings to the government, and the Social Security Administration connects the credits earned from their work to future benefits. In addition, the worker must pay their Social Security taxes.
In this way, by generating credits, a legal immigrant can access benefits such as retirement payments, spousal benefits, disability payments, among others. However, this requires accumulating at least 40 Social Security work credits. Up to four credits may be earned per year, with one credit awarded for every $1,510 of earnings per quarter.
In this sense, the 40 credits are equivalent to a minimum of ten years of work. However, reaching this amount does not mean that Social Security benefits can be accessed, for this the beneficiaries must be 62 years old, the minimum age for retirement, notwithstanding the benefits when retiring at that age are reduced by 25% with respect to the normal retirement age, between 66 and 67 years. Similarly, if retirement is delayed until age 70, you would receive 32% more monthly benefit.
Also, take care of us from other countries who work in the United States and obtain at least six credits, they can qualify for Social Security benefits in the United States, totaling and combining the credits obtained in their country. In Latin America, countries such as Brazil, Chile and Uruguay are part of the list of 25 countries that are part of this agreement.
In addition, registration in Social Security is permanent, so it is valid that a legal immigrant does not work for a period of time or has returned to his country to work, as long as he has not had to pay Social Security taxes, the registered credits They will remain and respect each other.
