“Dependents and Survivors Benefits” include: (i) Wife’s / Husband’s Insurance Benefits; (ii) Child’s Insurance Benefits; (iii) Widow’s / Widower’s Insurance Benefits; (iv) Mother’s and Father’s Insurance Benefits; (v) Parent’s Insurance Benefits; and (vi) Lump-Sum Death Payments.
“Insured Workers” are any individual immigrants who have a SSN and contribute to Social Security while working for U.S. employers or foreign affiliates under certain circumstances. Undocumented immigrants do not fall under this category.
“Preparing Immigrants” are immigrants who are in the process of immigrating to the U.S. and obtaining lawful immigrant status.
“Retirement Benefits” are Old-Age Insurance Benefits.
“Social Security Benefits” are the following U.S. Social Security Benefits: Retirement Benefits, Dependent and Survivor Benefits, Social Security Disability Benefits (“SSD Benefits”), or Supplemental Security Income Benefits (“SSI Benefits”).
“SSA” is the abbreviation for the Social Security Administration.
“SSD Benefits” are Social Security Disability Benefits. The Social Security disability insurance program is designed to help people who can’t work because they have a medical condition that’s expected to last at least 1 year or result in death.
“SSI Benefits” are Supplemental Security Income Benefits. A federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and persons with disabilities who have little or no income. Supplemental Security Income Benefits can never be received by dependents
“SSN” is the abbreviation for Social Security Number.
“Supervised Immigrants” are immigrants that are awaiting a court hearing or final deportation order. They are not detained and are allowed to walk free, live, and work in the U.S. under certain conditions.
“Voluntary Departure” is an option that may be granted by either the Department of Homeland Security or an immigration court judge to immigrants facing deportation, often during removal proceedings, who meet the following requirements:
- Presence in the U.S. for at least 1 year immediately prior to the date notice to appear was served;
- Person of good moral character for at least 5 years immediately preceding application for voluntary departure;
- Not accused of an aggravated felony; and
- Not deportable for public safety or national security reasons. Immigrants granted Voluntary Departure are not deemed “deported” or “removed” and may be able to receive Retirement Benefits and SSD Benefits once back in Mexico.“Voluntary Return” is a type of departure that only takes place at the border and can only be granted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers through the completion of Form I-826. It is less formal than a voluntary departure, and occurs when an individual is detained at the border and offered a chance to “turn around” without a hearing.