What medical, medicare and social security benefits are available for green cardholders. (application, deportation)

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by jinj

The person that sponsors the green card holders is required to sign a document that says the that the new residents will not be a burden to the state for several years, which means you have to provide for them, not the rest of the tax payers.

Well it is just for a few years. But also a sponsor's situation can change to where they aren't able to provide for the ones they helped to immigrate. So what happens then?

[susan42]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

They cannot be turned away at a hospital but they will probably be stuck with the bills unless they are very poor and qualify for Medicaid. They'll probably have to sign up and pay for some private insurance. The 62 year old will have a UK pension, the 58 year old will have one within two years. Even with just a visa and not a green card, they can get a SS number -- no benefits, of course, because they never worked here, but the SS number is a means of identification over here.

SSI? I'm not sure. That's for disabled and people over 65 who are poor. I'm not sure if immigrants are eligible for it because your parents would have had to prove that they had enough money to not be a government charge.

The US is not very welcoming to legal immigrants. Maybe when they get to Florida they can ask some of the other Brits who live there.

You cannot get a SSN with all visas, only ones that allow you to work.I have H4 and cannot get a SSN as I am not allowed to work.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Chava61

Well it is just for a few years. But also a sponsor's situation can change to where they aren't able to provide for the ones they helped to immigrate. So what happens then?

I would bet in almost every case the sponsor does not bother to purchase a health insurance plan for their immigrant or pay much of their living costs. Sometimes the sponsor may provide a room in their house, share some meals but not many real costs are paid.

If the sponsor doesn't get a health insurance plan then their immigrant gets taxpayer provided medical care.

[2tired2travel]

My husband a French citizen, risks losing his benefits, pension, if he applies for a green card. Interestingly enough in France, Americans can still receive their Social Security checks, when a foreign citizen moves here, they lose everything.

Having to have money to prove that you will not be a 'burden' on society, LOL, who has hundreds of thousands sitting in the
bank, should there be a medical emergency?

No coverage is available for the elderly, especially with a pre existing condition. I would be interested to know if anyone has found any.

Our family is tired of living in 2 countries,,and. we truly are
just 2 tired 2 travel. We tried living in France,,amazing that that country,,when married to one of their citizens, very quickly provides you with benefits under your spouse.

I would love any additional benefit information,,

Regards~

[chicagojlo]

Not all foreign citizens lose their rights, I'm guessing it's France that decided you will be cut off if you choose to become a permanent resident of another country. If things are so bad why not just move to France? Or give up the French pension/benefits?

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by 2tired2travel

My husband a French citizen, risks losing his benefits, pension, if he applies for a green card. Interestingly enough in France, Americans can still receive their Social Security checks, when a foreign citizen moves here, they lose everything.:

That is a French issue.

Originally Posted by 2tired2travel

Having to have money to prove that you will not be a 'burden' on society, LOL, who has hundreds of thousands sitting in the
bank, should there be a medical emergency?:

I cannot figure out what you are trying to say so I guess.

Originally Posted by 2tired2travel

No coverage is available for the elderly, especially with a pre existing condition. I would be interested to know if anyone has found any.
:

These coverages are out there. As your spouse you should be able to add him to your policy under change of lifestyle. Otherwise google for expat coverage. As you have not given any information to work with there is no way to answer your question with anything but vague comments.

Originally Posted by 2tired2travel

Our family is tired of living in 2 countries,,and. we truly are
just 2 tired 2 travel. We tried living in France,,amazing that that country,,when married to one of their citizens, very quickly provides you with benefits under your spouse.:

If benefits are a major factor in your life why not stay in France?

Originally Posted by 2tired2travel

I would love any additional benefit information,,

As you have not given any information to work with there is no way to answer your question. What benefits do you need, what age group do you fall in, why the move to the US, what is your employment situation, what is your budget ..........

[chicagojlo]

Personally I think that if you have a green card and can't survive without having to turn to public assistance you should have your green card revoked. Once you're a citizen there's nothing they can do, but maybe they need to make that another requirement of naturalization, that you haven't claimed public assistance while a permanent resident. I don't feel that I have a right as a GC holder myself to claim welfare, I am still a guest in this country right now. In the last country I was an expat in foreign residents were not allowed to claim welfare until they had paid a certain amount of taxes. If you couldn't survive they would give you a flight back home.

[IndigoLight]

I think some confuse Social Security/Retirement benefits and SSI (Supplimental Security Income).
Elderly immigrants qualify for SSI only as they've never worked in the US.
So the talk about "plush" retirement benefits for old immigrants is ridiculous.
SSI check is about $650/month. Try to survive on that (rent, utilities, groceries, etc.)
Not all adult children of sponsored elderly parents are doctors, lawyers or employed in other well paid professions.
Many live from paycheck to paycheck. But they work and they pay taxes.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by chicagojlo

Personally I think that if you have a green card and can't survive without having to turn to public assistance you should have your green card revoked. Once you're a citizen there's nothing they can do, but maybe they need to make that another requirement of naturalization, that you haven't claimed public assistance while a permanent resident. I don't feel that I have a right as a GC holder myself to claim welfare, I am still a guest in this country right now. In the last country I was an expat in foreign residents were not allowed to claim welfare until they had paid a certain amount of taxes. If you couldn't survive they would give you a flight back home.

With all due respect, this thread as resurrected by 2tired has little to do with "welfare" where a GC holder is concerned. As the new OP (and this really should have been a new thread and not latched onto one long dormant) poster Threestep addressed his/her issue succintly.

In all my years of being a GC holder (40+ years) I have NEVER gone on the welfare roll and neither have I claimed unemployment benefits. However, as a GC holder and having paid into the system for many years I am most certainly entitled to those benefits as much as any US Citizen.

At 64 I'm still working as hard as I've always worked. I'll be happy to qualify at 65 for Medicare at least, since I have no medical insurance. Thank goodness I've no major medical problems to date but at least if I enroll in the program those incredibly few doctor visits will be covered just a bit. Cheers!

[chicagojlo]

I feel that you should have to obtain citizenship before you become entitled to those things. The main reason most GC holders don't become citizens is to avoid being taxed on their worldwide income, if that is your reason for not naturalising then I don't feel you should in fact be entitled to benefits as you are clearly not paying the full amount of tax that you should be. You're either all in or all out.