Issues Concerning Social Security Benefits Paid to Aliens.
Abstract
There has long been congressional concern about aliens who work only long enough to become eligible for social security benefits and then return to their native countries to collect the benefits for themselves and their dependents. In 1981, the Social Security Administration paid nearly $1 billion to 313,000 beneficiaries living abroad, more than 60 percent of whom were aliens. Alien retirees abroad generally have worked less time in covered employment, have paid less taxes to social security, and have more dependents than the average retiree, frequently adding such dependents after retirement. GAO's study also identified an inconsistency between the Social Security Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act--aliens are allowed to earn social security credits under the former act while violating the latter. Accumulation of credits by and the payment of benefits to aliens who worked illegally in the United States could be costly to the trust funds.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 24, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA141785
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office