Help Me If You Can

The first thing I would suggest is that you go to the Social Security website and create an account. You can check the estimations that way!

I hope folks get back to you.

@GreatMartin gave you the link below. I believe they have a calculator where you can figure your benefits on the website. Good luck!

I believe you either need 10 years or 10 quarters to collect SS in the USA but go here and when you set up an account you will get ALL the information you need/want! It tells you right on the front page what to do to get what you want/need to know

@RasmaSandra - I am glad that @DianneN suggested you ask everyone about what you should do. I write a retirement blog called Baby-Boomer-Retirement. com and there is a lot of information on it about Social Security. It is free, so check it out. The first thing you should do is call the Social Security Administration and tell them you would like to collect your benefits. However, since you only lived and worked in the US for 8 years, you may not be eligible. You have to have worked for at least 10 years to get any benefits. Or, if you were married to someone in the United States for at least 10 years, and they are eligible for Social Security benefits, you may be eligible based on their earnings. You really should contact the Social Security Administration. Even if you were living in another country, if you were paying taxes to the US for a couple of years, you could still be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. The Social Security Administration will have your employment records and let you know what you may be entitled to. If you are close, perhaps you can earn money some way in the US and pay taxes on it for a couple of years, and then you will be eligible. In addition, you should contact the Human Resources Department for the company where you were putting money aside in a 401 (k) or some other retirement plan. That money may still be available to you. You could also contact the State Treasurer's office for the state of New York to see if you have any unclaimed money in bank or brokerage accounts. You need to have all the facts, so you know what you need to do. Contact everyone you can find at the Social Security Administration, your former employer and the State of New York until you have traced every bit of money that may be due you.

I hope you get your answers soon

What I understand is that you have a Social Security number. If so, go to mySocialSecurity.gov and create an account. Make sure your records are correct. If you earn more that $600 from any place you work online in a year, they need to report it as well. Then you will take it from there. I see a lot of us mentioning "quarters" and such to you. This site will tell you the right number, etc.

The only thing I know to do is talk to the SS people but I imagine now is not a good time to do that.

As I am not American and never worked in the United States I cannot be of any help, but I see some good suggestions from other users.

For the USA, go to the SS . gov. everything should be there that you want to know.

I am in the exact same boat, that you're in. I worked as a licensed daycare home, for six years. Then, I sold Tupperware for 6 years. They have no history of these jobs, because I didn't make enough money. Thus, I was considered not working. What? Those 12 years, I was doing nothing? 'HELP!'

@RasmaSandra On the Internet look up information for Social Security in New York and who to contact or maybe Dianne or anyone here that lives in that area can help you as to who to contact?

Creating an online account with SS should be the first step. Then you can see earnings.

as long as you have a social security number, you have a retirement amount. Eligibility has moved to 65 or older for partial 70 or over for full!

Hi Rasma--I am looking at the same thing right now. Go to SSA government website and create an account --I think the prompt is "my social security" account--I did that this morning and got an estimate immediately-- Here is the web address for creating that account-- I hope this helps Rasma!!

How was Latvia by the way.?

I have no idea.

I see someone gave you the number for SS, however, no one answers. I had to call there and figured out was not going to get a live person.

Hope someone is able to help. Four Walls' idea is good.

Sorry I couldn't think of anything to help except help yourself as sung by Tom Jones.