Can your spouse a Brazilian collect SSI

I went to the IRS and asked. They said she could if she received a SS#. Right now she has ITIN and IRS said the determination would be made by the SSA.
In other words NO! SSA said she must be a Citizen of the US or qualify to work in the USA.

Thankyou  for your replay. I have read if you can prove you been in the US 5 years not all at one time that can qualify. There a list of countries if you can show residents in one is Portugal works. Thanks again.

There are no waivers on what you are asking, but you can check with The Lisbon Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) provides services for the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Personnel Management, Railroad Retirement Board, Medicare, and Department of Labor.
The FBU Lisbon provides assistance to beneficiaries residing in the following countries: Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guiné-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé & Principe.
If you reside in a country not listed above, please direct your inquiry to your local U.S Embassy or Consulate’s website to locate your nearest Federal Benefits Unit.

Please see https://www.ssa.gov/international/Agree … azil.html. Once you get through that your point of contact is the Lisbon office of the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU).

Sorry - bad link I guess. Try https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10167.pdf

Oh darn. Not sure what the turn-around is on reviewing links. Just go to the SSA site and search on: Agreement Between the United States and Brazil en-05-10167

SSI is not SSDI. SSI is not funded by the SSA retirement fund. Therefore if even YOU leave the USA you will lose your benefit payment, with very few exceptions.

Therefore I’m pretty sure your Wife living in Brazil wouldn’t be eligible to receive any money based on your benefit.

SSDI is different. She may be eligible if you are receiving SSDI. Google “SSDI survivor benefits”.