The United States and Spain have a social security agreement that allows workers to receive benefits from both countries. This agreement, signed in 1988, helps ensure that workers who have worked in both countries are not penalized for their contributions to social security systems.
Under the agreement, if you have worked in both the United States and Spain, your work credits will be combined to determine your eligibility for benefits. This means that if you have worked long enough to qualify for benefits in one country but not the other, you may still be eligible for benefits based on your combined work history.
The agreement applies to retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. It also covers Medicare eligibility for U.S. citizens who have lived in Spain and paid into the Spanish social security system.
One of the key benefits of the agreement is the elimination of dual social security taxes. This means that if you are working in one country but pay into the social security system of the other country, you will not have to pay social security taxes twice. Instead, you will only pay into the social security system of the country where you are working.
The agreement also helps protect the social security benefits of workers who move between the United States and Spain. If you are already receiving benefits from one country and move to the other country, you will still be eligible to receive your benefits.
Overall, the U.S.-Spain social security agreement helps protect the social security benefits of workers who have contributed to both countries` social security systems. If you have worked in both countries, you should familiarize yourself with the agreement to ensure that you receive all the benefits you are entitled to.
