Army Secondary Dependency Claims
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Foreign Pensions

Supplemental Security Income and pensions received from foreign organization similar to the Social Security Administration must be reported as part of a claimed secondary dependent’s income. Likewise, should the dependent not receive benefits, certification should be requested from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or its foreign counterpart.

NOTE: SSI and foreign pensions are only applicable to parents not originally from the United States.

If the dependent is 60 years old or older and is a widow/widower but below the age of full eligibility of benefits, a letter is needed from SSA and applicable foreign pension provider stating they are not receiving income for their deceased spouse from SSA or their home country.

If the dependent is 62 years old or older but below the age of full eligibility of benefits, a letter is needed from SSA and applicable foreign pension provider stating they are not receiving income for themselves. Please be sure that, if the dependent has a deceased spouse, the letter from SSA and/or foreign pension provider also states that they are not receiving benefits for their deceased spouse either.

If the dependent is at or over the age of full eligibility, a widow/widower or not, and they are not receiving any income, a letter is required from SSA and applicable foreign pension provider stating they are not receiving benefits for themselves or a deceased spouse, and will not ever be eligible to receive benefits for themselves or a deceased spouse.

PLEASE NOTE that we use the Social Security Administration ages for foreign pension income due to the fact that each country is different and most countries provide their benefits at a younger age.  This allows for a safe assumption that reported sources of income are complete.