Social Security Income for I-864 Affidavit of support

[SNAVegas 7]

It is my understanding that Social Security Benifits are an aceptable Income for Sponsorship of an  alien spouse on the I-864 Affidavit of support form.

Does anyone here have knowledge of doing that personally ? Or perhaps some others that have knowledge of such cases. I believe many sponsors are retirees.

This is information from the Immigration Legal Resource Center " A sponsor does not have to be employed and can use income from other sources besides employment such as a pension, retirement benefits, interest income, dividends, unemployment or worker’s compensation, alimony, or child support to meet the income requirement.  

So does Social Security count as a Retirement Benefit for Sponsorship purposes ? 
Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated. 

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

14 minutes ago, snahmed said:

It is my understanding that Social Security Benifits are an aceptable Income for Sponsorship of an  alien spouse on the I-864 Affidavit of support form.

Does anyone here have knowledge of doing that personally ? Or perhaps some others that have knowledge of such cases. I believe many sponsors are retirees.

This is information from the Immigration Legal Resource Center " A sponsor does not have to be employed and can use income from other sources besides employment such as a pension, retirement benefits, interest income, dividends, unemployment or worker’s compensation, alimony, or child support to meet the income requirement.  

So does Social Security count as a Retirement Benefit for Sponsorship purposes ? 
Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated. 

Yes, Social Security Retirement income is, in fact, acceptable income.  I, personally, used my SS retirement along with my military retirement pensions to show evidence of my financial ability to sponsor my wife.

Edited September 3, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[SNAVegas 7]

6 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Yes, Social Security Retirement income is, in fact, acceptable income.  I, personally, used my SS retirement along with my military retirement pensions to show evidence of my financial ability to sponsor my wife.

That is great to know & thank you so much for responding. So on the Section for Current Household Income i would include my SS payment & the  Pension Payment i receive from a Corporation. Those are the only 2 ongoing Income sources I currently have. I also have some Interest Income/Dividends income but that can vary each year.

 So as proof of that Income I would suuply the Social Security Benefits statement  & The Benefit Statement from the Corporate Pension with my I-864 submission. 

Additionaly the IRS also has a Wage & Income Transcript that lists all Income including SS, Pensions, Interest, dividends, IRA withdrawls etc.

So hopefully between those 2 I can establish my sources of income on my Tax Return 

[JeanneAdil 6,209]

my SSA was not taxable income and NVC did not want to accept it / until i went to a lawyer in Atlanta and he wrote a letter for me 

you will notice above that Social Security income is not mentioned

there may be other factors that figure into whether or not NVC considers it without a fight

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

Even though my tax return shows only taxable Social Security income, my award letter from them showed the full pre-taxed benefit from my SS retirement pension.  Same with my VA pension.

[pushbrk 12,135]

18 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Even though my tax return shows only taxable Social Security income, my award letter from them showed the full pre-taxed benefit from my SS retirement pension.  Same with my VA pension.

An award letter is the evidence of current income, not the tax return.  However, your total SS income from last year DOES show on your tax return.  Only any taxable amount is included in the total income line though.  With only SS and VA income, one typically does not file a tax return.  Exceptions, of course, including another current topic in this forum.

[SNAVegas 7]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

my SSA was not taxable income and NVC did not want to accept it / until i went to a lawyer in Atlanta and he wrote a letter for me 

you will notice above that Social Security income is not mentioned

there may be other factors that figure into whether or not NVC considers it without a fight

Yes, Interesting that SS is not mentioned by them

 

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

my SSA was not taxable income and NVC did not want to accept it / until i went to a lawyer in Atlanta and he wrote a letter for me 

you will notice above that Social Security income is not mentioned

there may be other factors that figure into whether or not NVC considers it without a fight

Yes, Interesting that Immigration Legal Resource Center does not have SS as a qualified income source !!!

[SNAVegas 7]

29 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Even though my tax return shows only taxable Social Security income, my award letter from them showed the full pre-taxed benefit from my SS retirement pension.  Same with my VA pension.

So did you submit the SS Benefits award letter in addition to the Tax Return as proof of Total SS Income ? 

[Pokua Monique 3]

I have SSDI income award letter and 1099 but dont file taxes, should I get a co-sponsor for my fiance?

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

3 minutes ago, snahmed said:

So did you submit the SS Benefits award letter in addition to the Tax Return as proof of Total SS Income ? 

I used the awards letter to show evidence of current annual income.  Tax returns were used to show past tax filings.

[SNAVegas 7]

1 minute ago, Lucky Cat said:

I used the awards letter to show evidence of current annual income.  Tax returns were used to show past tax filings.

Excellent !! Then that gives me hope. So the SS Award Letter & Your military Pension were accepted by NVC on your 1st attempt or did you have to re-submit with explanation ? I have the Award Letter from SS & alsothe award letter from my Private Corp. Pension ( also a 1099 from them from last year) 

 

3 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

I used the awards letter to show evidence of current annual income.  Tax returns were used to show past tax filings.

 

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

17 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

An award letter is the evidence of current income, not the tax return.  However, your total SS income from last year DOES show on your tax return.  Only any taxable amount is included in the total income line though.  With only SS and VA income, one typically does not file a tax return.  Exceptions, of course, including another current topic in this forum.

You're right.  Tax returns show both pre-tax and taxable numbers.   I forgot it showed both.  In my case, I have to file every year.

[Crazy Cat 39,324]

Just now, snahmed said:

Then that gives me hope. So the SS Award Letter & Your military Pension were accepted by NVC on your 1st attempt

There were no issues with my evidence using SS Retirement award letter, my military retirement awards letter, and my VA awards letter for current annual income.  They were my only sources of income that year.

[SNAVegas 7]

27 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

There were no issues with my evidence using SS Retirement award letter, my military retirement awards letter, and my VA awards letter for current annual income.  They were my only sources of income that year.

Great !!!  Thank you so much because there has been quite a bit of conflicting information so it is good to hear from someone who actually went through it. My Current Total HH Income matches my SS & Private Corp Award letters. And the same shows up on my Prior Years Tax returns.

Others have mentioned they encountered some challenges so we will see how it plays out for me but hoping & praying for the best.

[pushbrk 12,135]

1 hour ago, Pokua Monique said:

I have SSDI income award letter and 1099 but dont file taxes, should I get a co-sponsor for my fiance?

It depends on whether that income is sufficient to qualify.