My non resident and non U.S. citizen spouse is applying for social security benefits. We currently reside part of the year in Florida and the rest of the time in Brazil. My wife is an Italian citizen. She is 64.5 years old When social security administration asks about income are they only asking about U.S. sources? She has never worked in the U.S. but does have a social security number that she received in the 70's when she was in the U.S. on a student visa. If she works in Brazil for a non U.S. company does that income affect her eligibility? Your help would be appreciated.

Hi,

Social Security has a foreign work test that is similar in principle to the regular earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html). Under the foreign work test (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.18/handbook-1823.html), benefits payable for months prior to full retirement age are withheld for any months in which the beneficiary works more than 45 hours outside the US. Therefore, if your wife files for Social Security benefits prior to her full retirement age, she won't be due benefits for any months in which she works more than 45 hours in Brazil.

Best, Jerry