No Soc Sec for senior

QCan an undocumented immigrant collect Social Security retirement benefits? A church group is trying to help a 79-year-old Trinidadian lady who came here more than 25 years ago on a student visa. She never got a green card. She has no family to help her. At 76, she retired with a small pension. Last year, the woman was diagnosed with dementia. She paid into the Social Security system. Now that she’s retired, can she get that money back?

Diane Stradling, Manhattan Undocumented immigrants living in the United States cannot collect Social Security retirement benefits. Donald Trump has been saying the opposite, but it’s not true. Undocumented immigrants pay billions into Social Security. Some are working

Awith Social Security cards. Many use Individual Tax Identification Numbers. Employers deduct their federal retirement contributions and pay that money into the Social Security retirement fund. They help subsidize the fund, but get no benefits. Sometimes undocumented immigrants can retire abroad and get their benefits, but not if they stay in the United States.

QCan my mother-in-law bring her disabled daughter to the United States? My mother-in-law is a naturalized U.S. citizen. She has a mentally disabled daughter age 50. She has always had caretakers, but that service is no longer available. Is getting her a green card the only way to get the daughter here?

Anonymous, by email The daughter’s only hope for getting here quickly is a process called “humanitarian parole.” To apply for humanitarian parole, your mother-in-law files USCIS form I-131, Application for Travel Document, and Form I-134, Affidavit of support (signed by a close relative). She should document her need for care and how it will be paid for. You can get the form at uscis.gov or by calling (800) 870-3676, and local elected officials can also provide help.

Send questions and comments to Allan Wernick at questions@allanwernick.com. Follow him on Twitter @awernick.

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