Question
Social Security question here. As you all know, Medicare Plan B amount is automatically deducted from monthly social security payments. (Just got off the phone with Soc Sec there’s no way around that automatic deduction.) My concern is: do consulates realize this and give credit for the gross amount of soc sec, i.e. before Medicare payment is deducted. Would it be worthwhile to send along a copy and translation of the soc sec benefit letter with the non lucrative Spain visa application? I am going through SF Consulate, the notoriously picky one!!
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
“Yes the SS Benefit letter shows how much you get monthly. Just as valuable as a bank statement”
“For our initial application, I only used the first page of the letter which shows the total amounts we receive. I did not submit the second page regarding Medicare (was advised this would be fine). I had been working up to the time we applied. We did not submit detailed bank statements – only the summary pages stating the amount in the accounts. It was fine. For our non lucrative Spain visa renewal in Spain last year, the gestor submitted only our entire SS benefit verification letters, which did have Medicare deductions stated & did not submit any bank statements at all. It was approved in 3 days. We’re actually about to cancel Part B now as we have no plans to return to the US.”
Based on the responses from Spainguru’s Facebook group members, it appears that including a translated copy of the Social Security benefit letter with the non lucrative Spain visa application, which shows the gross amount of benefits received before Medicare deductions, could be beneficial. The benefit letter is considered just as valuable as a bank statement and may be sufficient for the application. Some members reported that they were advised that submitting only the first page of the letter, which shows the total amounts received, was sufficient, and they did not submit the second page regarding Medicare. Additionally, some members reported that they were able to renew their NLV in Spain with just the entire SS benefit verification letters, which did have Medicare deductions stated, and without submitting any bank statements at all. Overall, it seems that submitting the benefit letter with the application can help and can be a good option for those applying through a selective consulate like the one in San Francisco.
