Agreement To Pursue Social Security Disability Benefits: Fill & Download for Free

TL; DR: Social Security offers overseas direct deposit for beneficiaries. There is no need to travel to the US to apply for or pick up benefits.More information can be found by reading the SSA booklet on payments outside the US, found here: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf)However, if you're one of the many Indian citizens working in the US on H-1B, you may wish to read further for additional information and my answer may dispel many myths you may have heard about foreign workers and Social Security retirement benefits.Provided one is fully qualified by having 40 quarters of coverage (generally 10 years of work), they can draw a retirement benefit. In the past, foreign workers who chose not to pursue LPR status didn’t remain in the US long enough to earn 40 SSA work quarters. However, with the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, this has changed, primarily for India-born workers who cannot get LPR status in a timely manner because of the diversity cap in Sec 202(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Those workers with an approved I-140 petition can remain in H-1B status indefinitely. These same workers are going to be the ones who are most likely to work long enough to qualify for a retirement benefit while at the same time not being LPRs or citizens of the US.How does the quarter of coverage system work? Below is a table showing the amount of Social Security taxable income that one must earn in a given year to get one quarter of coverage:A maximum of four quarters can be earned in a given year. For 2020, once one has earned $5,640, they have earned their four quarters for the year. For a person earning six figures, they’ll earn this by the end of January. The amount a quarter is worth may not seem like much, but when one looks at a person earning the federal minimum wage working 40 hours per week, it will take them five months (20 weeks) of full time work to earn four quarters. The best way to determine SSA taxed earnings is by looking at one’s W-2:Box 3 will show the wages that were taxed for Social Security. So long as this amount is over the value for four work quarters, one has earned all their quarters for that year.The tax deduction on one’s paycheck can have many names. It can be ‘Social Security’, however other acronyms used are OASDI, FICA (the law that mandates payroll taxes for Social Security contributions and Medicare) and SSDI (which refers to the disability benefit only.) Depending on how an employer chooses to list deductions, they may be broken out into the 6.2% Social Security amount and the 1.45% Medicare amount or they may be lumped together at 7.65% of income subject to these taxes. Both the employer and the employee contribute an equal amount. Self employed persons who are sole proprietors (Schedule C) will pay both portions or 15.3%; this is commonly called the self-employment tax, but it is the same tax employees pay, just twice as much to account for the fact the the self employed person is also their own employer.Do not confuse Social Security retirement and disability benefits with the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which is also administered by the Social Security Administration. It is a separate welfare program for US citizens and certain LPRs. It cannot be paid to beneficiaries who live outside the US. SSI is means tested and for the disabled and elderly who are very poor and have no or little other income and resources of their own.Another confusion is company retirement plans like 401(k)s. These plans are private. Every plan is different and rules vary. Normally contributions to these plans are refunded to the contributor if they have not become vested by contributing for the required minimum period of time. If one is forced to cash out a 401(k), they need to see a financial planner or accountant if they are not aware of the pitfalls of cashing out a 401(k) before one is 59 1/2 and/or taking the money out all at one. Read one’s 401(k) literature carefully.Edit: There is a lot of disinformation out there. If one wants to comment that my answer is incorrect or a reply to a comment is incorrect, they must post links to original research, not links to discussion groups or hearsay anecdotal evidence, news articles, etc. I will not allow the comments to this answer to be used to spread disinformation.I am open to learning new information or a correction from what my own original research has found, but such information must be substantiated. Any contrary comments without valid citations will be deleted. You have been warned - my answer, my rules.Currently, according to the Social Security Administration, there is exists no treaty, or totalization agreement, between the US and India regarding social security benefits or contributions. U.S. International Social Security AgreementsA person must contribute to Social Security and earn 40 work quarters (10 years) to be insured for a retirement benefit. Generally, H-1B status can last a maximum of six years. However, the AC-21 Act allows H-1B status to be extended indefinitely, thus it is possible for certain H-1B workers to meet the 40 quarter requirement. AC21 generally benefits those foreign workers with an approved I-140 petition but who cannot apply permanent residence yet due to the artificial backlog created by INA Sec. 202(a)(2). Those affected are mostly India-born.Please do not contribute to the disinformation that already exists. Do original research on the law for yourself, do not rely on the Internet or even my own answer. Every person’s case is unique; what applies to one may not apply to all.Edit #2: Please do not confuse the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI) with Social Security retirement benefits, referred to by many acronyms such as SSDI and OASDI. FICA is the law that mandates payroll deduction of the taxes for OASDI and Medicare. These are separate programs. SSI is a welfare benefit available only to US citizens and in limited circumstances, LPRs. SSI is means tested and is designed for those with no income or resources who cannot work for medical reasons or have reached retirement age. This is not the program I'm talking about.Edit #3: Moved some information in the prior edits into the main answer and reorganized the answer for easier reading. 25K plus views! I hope all those who have read are much better informed about Social Security than they were.Edit #4: Added information about how SSA work quarters are earned. This answer is getting really long, however I’m adding information based on questions raised in the comments. I’ve also done more revising and reorganization to shorten the answer.Edit #5: Added information that 401(k) plans and other company offered retirement savings plans are private and have nothing to do with Social Security.

My ex. He actually tried to get full custody of our daughters. One was almost 18 and one was almost 16. He shared an apartment with 5 other men all in their 40’s. The only space my ex had that was his own was his bedroom. Living room, kitchen, bathroom was all shared space. He thought that by getting custody he would get child support and alimony from me. I however had an apartment for just me and the kids. They each had their own rooms and no one else lived with us. He tried asking the court for a home study to decide who the kids should live with. My daughters spoke with my lawyer. Who in turn spoke with his lawyer. His lawyer finally convinced him it wouldn’t go well to pursue that in court. He would lose and then have to pay the costs of the home study.I got the kids, the dogs, the tools and by time my ex finished dragging the whole thing out my oldest was over 18 and no longer part of the custody agreement. I might add that I specifically worded the custody arrangement. There were no set days he got to see my youngest. It was at her discretion if she wanted to spend time with him, talk to him or have any contact with him. She didn’t and hasn’t to this day almost 10 years later.He was (and still is) a violent, mean drunk drug addict who has never admitted to having a problem, has never held a job (except for one time) for longer than 3 months. The one time he did? I drove him to work every day and picked him up after. He hung on to it for a year. He will lie, cheat and steal to feed his habit.Once he called his mother, gave her this BS story about how he and his new GF had moved to Florida (they had) and all he needed was my youngest’s Social Security Number and Florida welfare would send her a check every month. She actually had the nerve to call and ask for the number! My daughter was smart enough not to give it to her. I called my ex-MIL later that day and asked her just how stupid she was. Florida wasn’t going to send a check to NJ. He was trying to claim that my daughter lived with him in Florida to scam welfare. I called Florida the very next day. I sent a copy of the divorce decree and gave them my ex’s name and Social Security Number (I knew it because I always filled out any paperwork for us including tax returns) and told them in no uncertain terms that none of my children lived with him in that state and he did not have the legal right to any benefits for them. The damage he could have done with that number. Credit cards in her name when she turned 18. Loans.UPDATE:I’ve had to disable comments on this because of one person who seems to intensely dislike me because I mentioned that I got “the tools” in the divorce. For some reason that has led this woman to believe that I am some kind of horrible person and she has let me know that she has judged me and I come up lacking in her mind. I don’t know what her issues are nor do I care to find out. But for all those still reading let me put it this way. His own brother wouldn’t take him in. His sister’s husband wouldn’t let him live with them. Eventually even his mother told him no. My ex was not some paragon of virtue that was treated horribly by “my kind” (according to Lucy Merriweather, she knows “my kind” when she sees it and we are all horrible people).So thank you to all who replied and commented and didn’t go off on a rant about something you know nothing about.See you all later!

A friend of mine put together an awesome handwritten sign outlining why she's voting for President Obama this year, I think it says almost everything you need to know:Many Americans take it for granted that President Obama has been one of the most effective Presidents since FDR. It's important to remember just how bad things were when he took office and how much he's accomplished since he's been in office.We were hemorrhaging jobs when this President took office and now we've gone from 10% unemployment down to around 8.5%. If the recovery continues on this path, we'll be back to around 5% unemployment by 2016.It's not just about jobs though, President Obama has also worked to restore America's image around the world. When President Bush was in office we were invading countries for no reason, now we've left Iraq and are in the process of leaving Afghanistan.In case you needed a few other examples of what President Obama has accomplished I put together a list below:Extended child tax credits and marriage-penalty fixesCreated an Advanced Manufacturing Fund to invest in peer-reviewed manufacturing processesRequired economic justification for tax changesImplemented "Women Owned Business" contracting programChanged standards for determining broadband accessEstablished a credit card bill of rightsExpanded loan programs for small businessesExtended the Bush tax cuts for lower incomesExtended the 2007 Alternative MinimumTax patchClosed the "doughnut hole" in Medicare prescription drug planExpanded the Senior Corps volunteer programRequired insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditionsGave tax credits to those who need help to pay health premiumsRequired large employers to contribute to a national health planRequired children to have health insurance coverageExpanded eligibility for MedicaidExpanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)Required health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient careEstablished an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective informationIn non-competitive markets, forced insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient careEliminated the higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plansExpanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitionersIncreased funding to expand community based prevention programsReinstated executive order to hire an additional 100,000 federal employees with disabilities within five years.Increased the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health professionalsExpanded the Veterans Administration's number of "centers of excellence" in specialty careAppointed a special adviser to the president on violence against womenFully funded the Violence Against Women ActDirected military leaders to end war in IraqBegan removing combat brigades from IraqCreated a military families advisory boardEnded the abuse of supplemental budgets for warMade U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on anti-terror effortsOpened "America Houses" in Islamic cities around the globeAllocated Homeland Security funding according to riskCreated a real National Infrastructure Protection PlanIncreased funding for local emergency planningExtended monitoring and verification provisions of the START I TreatyAppointed a White House Coordinator for Nuclear SecurityInitiated a grant and training program for law enforcement to deter cyber crimeImproved relations with Turkey, and its relations with Iraqi KurdsLaunched an international Add Value to Agriculture Initiative (AVTA)Created a rapid response fund for emerging democraciesGranted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to CubaRestored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) programEstablished an Energy Partnership for the AmericasExpanded the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothersRequired new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.Provided affordable, high-quality child careRecruited math and science degree graduates to the teaching professionReduced subsidies to private student lenders and protect student borrowersEncouraged water-conservation efforts in the WestIncreased funding for national parks and forestsIncreased funding for the Land and Water Conservation FundEncouraged farmers to use more renewable energy and be more energy efficientExpanded Pell grants for low-income studentsPursued a wildfire management planRemoved more brush, small trees and vegetation that fuel wildfiresExpanded access to places to hunt and fishPushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factorsRepealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policyRestored funding to the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance ProgramsReformed mandatory minimum sentencesCreated a White House Office on Urban PolicyFully funded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)Established program to convert manufacturing centers into clean technology leadersEstablished 'Promise Neighborhoods' for areas of concentrated povertyWorked toward deploying a global climate change research and monitoring systemFunded a major expansion of AmeriCorpsCreated a Social Investment Fund NetworkBolstered the military's ability to speak differentlanguagesAppointed the nation's first Chief Technology OfficerProvided grants to early-career researchersWorked to overturn Ledbetter vs. GoodyearCreated a national declassification centerAppointed an American Indian policy adviserCreated new financial regulationsIncreased funding for land-grant collegesBanned lobbyist gifts to executive employeesSigned a "universal" health care billCreated new criminal penalties for mortgage fraudRequired 10 percent renewable energy by 2012Released oil from Strategic Petroleum ReserveRaised fuel economy standardsInvested in all types of alternative energyEnacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid carsAsked people and businesses to conserve electricityRequired more energy-efficient appliancesCreated a 'Green Vet Initiative' to promote environmental jobs for veteransCreated job training programs for clean technologiesRequired states to provide incentives for utilities to reduce energy consumptionSupported high-speed railSupported airline service in small townsInvested in public transportationEqualized tax breaks for driving and public transitConsidered "smart growth" in transportation fundingShared environmental technology with other countriesDoubled federal spending for research on clean fuelsProvided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codesIncreased funding for the Environmental Protection AgencyRaised the small business investment expensing limit to $250,000 through the end of 2009Extended unemployment insurance benefits andtemporarily suspend taxes on these benefitsSupported network neutrality on the InternetReversed restrictions on stem cell researchKilled Osama bin LadenDoubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that encourages manufacturing efficiencyIncluded environmental and labor standards in trade agreementsCreated an international tax haven watch listMade permanent the Research & Development tax creditRequired automatic enrollment in 401(k) plansRequired automatic enrollment in IRA plansCreated a consumer-friendly credit card rating systemCreated a $60 billion bank to fund roads and bridgesRequired full disclosure of company pension investments to employeesProvided easy-to-understand comparisons of the Medicare prescription drug plansInvested in electronic health information systemsPhased in requirements for health information technologyRequired that health plans utilize disease management programsRequired providers to report measures of health care costs and qualityHeld hospitals and health plans accountable for disparities in careImplemented and funded proven health intervention programsPrevented drug companies from blocking generic drugsAllowed Medicare to negotiate for cheaper drug pricesWorked with schools to create more healthful environments for childrenImproved recruitment of public health workersMandated insurance coverage of autism treatmentFully funded the Combating Autism Act and Federal Autism Research InitiativesDoubled federal funding for cancer researchIncreased participation in cancer-related clinical trialsFully funded the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)Set a national goal to provide re-screening for all 2-year-olds for developmental disordersCommissioned a study on students with disabilities and their transition to jobs or higher educationSet goals and timetables for implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation ActCreated a best practices list for private businesses in accommodating workers with disabilitiesLaunched educational initiative for employers on tax benefits of hiring employees with disabilitiesReduced the threshhold for the Family and Medical Leave Act from companies with 50 employees to companies with 25 employeesProvided a $1.5 billion fund to help states launch programs for paid family and medical leaveRequired employers to provide seven paid sick days per yearStreamlined the Social Security disability approval processExpanded Veterans Centers in rural areasEstablished standards of care for traumatic brain injury treatmentMade the Veterans Administration a national leader in health reformReduced the Veterans Benefits Administration claims backlogInstituted electronic record-keeping for the Veterans Benefits AdministrationExpanded housing vouchers program for homeless veteransLaunched a supportive services-housing program for veterans to prevent homelessnessExpanded the Family Medical Leave Act to include leave for domestic violence or sexual assaultFully funded debt cancellation for heavily indebted poor countriesCreated a fund for international small and medium enterprises (SME)Launched robust diplomatic effort with Iraq and its neighborsProvided $30 billion over 10 years to IsraelLimited Guard and Reserve deployments to one year for every six yearsEnded the "Stop-Loss" program of forcing troops to stay in service beyond their expected commitmentsFully and properly equipped troopsCreated a Civilian Assistance Corps that would organize private sector professionals to help in times of needIncluded humanitarian international missions in long-term budgetingReviewed weapons programsModernized ships and invested more in small vesselsSet standards for when the government should hire defense contractorsRestored the government's ability to manage contracts by rebuilding our contract officer corpsCreated a system of incentives and penalties for defense contractsEstablish a Global Education FundStrengthened the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aimed at stopping spread of weapons of mass destructionOrganized successful Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in 2010Expanded federal bioforensics program for tracking biological weaponsDeveloped a comprehensive cyber security and response strategyMandated standards for securing personal dataRequired companies to disclose personal information data breachesWorked to persuade the European Union to end credit guarantees to IranSeek to negotiate a political agreement on CyprusRestructured and streamlined USAIDIncreased the size of the foreign serviceUrged China to stop manipulation of its currency valuePressed China to end its support for regimes in Sudan, Burma, Iran and ZimbabweCreated a public "Contracts and Influence" databaseRequired Cabinet officials to host Internet town hall meetingsConducted regulatory agency business in publicPromoted more pre-school educationExpanded Early Head Start and Head StartReformed No Child Left BehindDoubled funding for Federal Charter School Program and require more accountabilityAddressed the dropout crisis by giving schools incentives for more dropout preventionCreated Teacher Residency Programs that will send teachers to high-need schoolsExpanded teacher mentoring programs and provide incentives for more planning timePromoted innovative ways to reward good teachersSimplified the application process for financial aidIncreased the number of high school students taking college-level coursesCreated incentives for tree planting and promote carbon sequestrationImproved water qualityRegulated pollution from major livestock operationsStrengthened federal environmental justice programsIncreased funding for organic and sustainable agriculturePartnered with landowners to conserve private landsCreated a community college partnership programIncreased funding for progams that conserve lands and habitat for select species such as the Osceola turkeySupported wetlands protectionPromoted economic development in MexicoSupported repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)Vigorously pursued hate crimes and civil rights abusesSigned the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act into lawSupported regional innovation clustersHelped low-income areas get phone and Internet serviceCreated a Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit (HOME) score for mortgage comparisonsIncreased the supply of affordable housing throughout metropolitan regionsInvested in transitional jobs and career pathway programsFully funded the COPS programImproved emergency response plansCapped interest rates on payday loans and improve disclosureExpanded public/private partnerships between schools and arts organizationsImproved climate change data recordsSupported improved weather prediction programOffered prizes for advances in consumer technologyEncouraged contests and programs to interest students in scienceIncreased research opportunities for college studentsStrengthened the levees in New OrleansDirected revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling to increased coastal hurricane protectionShook loose federal money for rebuilding the Gulf Coast