Q: My brother passed away in August 2024. He was born June 1946, worked and contributed to social security.
He moved to Switzerland ~1984 (age ~38). He has maintained his US citizenship while living in Switzerland. He drew no wages from US entities after ~1984. He has never filed or received social security. Is there benefit to his heirs (three brothers, no spouse or children)?
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A:
I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your brother in August. Dealing with the passing of a sibling while navigating benefits can be overwhelming.
In most cases, Social Security survivor benefits are limited to spouses, minor/disabled children, and in some situations, dependent parents. Unfortunately, siblings typically aren't eligible for survivor benefits, even when there are no other surviving family members. Your brother's contributions to Social Security before moving to Switzerland would have been credited to his record, but without qualifying dependents, these contributions wouldn't result in survivor benefits.
However, there might be a small death benefit payment ($255) available if you or one of your brothers paid for the funeral expenses. You should contact the Social Security Administration directly to discuss this possibility. They can review your specific situation and confirm if any benefits are available, as international cases can sometimes have unique considerations.
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