First month in the US
#31
Re: First month in the US
$14k income and (only) 60 years old seems to be a long way short of being dependant - start thinking of care, support, and attention that a child requires and you'll be in the right ballpark.
#32
Re: First month in the US
I have arrived here on 1st November on immigrant visa from the UK on family reunion grounds. I have received my SSN and waiting for GC. I live with my daughter and her partner in Virginia. I won't be working at all for this year in the USA. I am 60, so I am not sure I can find a suitable job even later on.
I started to read about taxes and health care and after month of reading I don't get anywhere. Maybe because I am not so clever and English is not my mother tongue?
Can anyone help me with some questions?
I started to read about taxes and health care and after month of reading I don't get anywhere. Maybe because I am not so clever and English is not my mother tongue?
Can anyone help me with some questions?
1. Should I file my income for this tax year? (I am here November and December, GC hasn't arrived yet).
I have a house and some savings more then $10k in the UK.
I have read some topics and it seems I don't have to file my tax return 2016.
2. How I define myself (I only understood I file as a single person)
Am I nonresident until I get GC? Then I become a resident?
Am I nonresident until I get GC? Then I become a resident?
3. Do I pay any income tax here if I get £11k a year pension only?
4. Do I have to inform the UK taxman about my move? I think next tax year I won't pay any tax in the UK because tax free income allowance will completely cover my pension.
5. What is a best way to file: a calendar year or a fiscal year? Can I choose? It seems if I can file from April to March like in the UK it will be easier to count my income with one only document from the UK?
I have read Convention between US and UK especially the Article 17 and 18
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-ce...s/uktreaty.pdf
but it hasn't make things any more clear.
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-ce...s/uktreaty.pdf
but it hasn't make things any more clear.
The most immediate issue for the OP is health insurance and its cost.
Last edited by nun; Dec 11th 2016 at 2:53 pm.
#33
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Re: First month in the US
Yes, you are right, I am living with my daughter. I won't be qualified as depended. To be honest I rather to pay more tax then to meet all the requirement to be qualified.
I will defenetely look for a part-time job. I am thinking about babysitting, I love children. I used to work at school long time ago (not in the UK, in case you are wondering how I manage to do that with my English).
I have to get my own Health Insurance. Surprisinly I sleep far better here without it then I did in Scotland knowing if I have a problem doctor will see me for free maybe in 3 months time but it is another matter.
I will defenetely look for a part-time job. I am thinking about babysitting, I love children. I used to work at school long time ago (not in the UK, in case you are wondering how I manage to do that with my English).
I have to get my own Health Insurance. Surprisinly I sleep far better here without it then I did in Scotland knowing if I have a problem doctor will see me for free maybe in 3 months time but it is another matter.
#34
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Joined: Dec 2016
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Re: First month in the US
Oh my goodness! I am so grateful for the last post. It seems like things are getting more clear and my panic recedes. I will start to do a research about Medicaid.
I guess I deserved a little slap on the wrist. I was too excited about joining my children here. I am not sure what I could change, maybe only get reed of savings? I won't gain anything with sale of the house. Actually quite opposite I will loose.
I keep saying Thanks and I mean it.
I guess I deserved a little slap on the wrist. I was too excited about joining my children here. I am not sure what I could change, maybe only get reed of savings? I won't gain anything with sale of the house. Actually quite opposite I will loose.
I keep saying Thanks and I mean it.
#35
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 10,026
Re: First month in the US
Oh my goodness! I am so grateful for the last post. It seems like things are getting more clear and my panic recedes. I will start to do a research about Medicaid.
I guess I deserved a little slap on the wrist. I was too excited about joining my children here. I am not sure what I could change, maybe only get reed of savings? I won't gain anything with sale of the house. Actually quite opposite I will loose.
I keep saying Thanks and I mean it.
I guess I deserved a little slap on the wrist. I was too excited about joining my children here. I am not sure what I could change, maybe only get reed of savings? I won't gain anything with sale of the house. Actually quite opposite I will loose.
I keep saying Thanks and I mean it.
I would recommend checking with CPA about dependent status, cant hurt.
Looking after children great idea, and many middle class families would love someone from Britain to babysit their children. Daycare can be quite expensive in America.
While I am not suggesting since not your own house, looking after say 3 children after school until parents get off work could easily be $700 to $1,200 per month depending on local situation.
Obamacare can be complicated to understand but even with pension income included could be affordable for catastrophic costs ( i.e. any hospital stay), though it is possible they say you make too little based on pension then they try to put you on Medicaid- which I am not sure as new resident you qualify for ( don't some visas state for 5 years no public benefits- I don't know answer). But Obamacare at least in state I was in, could base rate on projected income to "get in the door ". One of my children switched to Obamacare and quite happy with it, but each state very different,
#36
Re: First month in the US
I wish the OP well and that she can work things out. Apparently with a $14K annual income she might well be eligible for free Medicaid. I know that my neighbor isn't on her $17K social security benefits before deductions and that is before any adjustment to gross income. As per the agencies here in MS.
#37
Re: First month in the US
Selling the house and researching healthcare would have been a good idea. In all this we are assuming the OP has "scrubbed" her finances so that there are no US issues like UK investments funds held in things like ISAs, but as she only mentions a savings account I assume that its not a problem.
I would advise her to apply asap to Virginia to get what benefits she can. She probably won't qualify for Medicaid....unless she is in some special category that gets her around the 5 year waiting period of green card holders....but her low income might get her a nice ACA subsidy and maybe some other benefits too. She needs to get healthcare asap.She should try to get some Medicare credits by working and paying FICA so that after 10 years she can get Medicare Part A at no charge.
Last edited by nun; Dec 11th 2016 at 7:22 pm.
#38
Re: First month in the US
We must agree to disagree then. End of narrative.
I wish the OP well and that she can work things out. Apparently with a $14K annual income she might well be eligible for free Medicaid. I know that my neighbor isn't on her $17K social security benefits before deductions and that is before any adjustment to gross income. As per the agencies here in MS.
I wish the OP well and that she can work things out. Apparently with a $14K annual income she might well be eligible for free Medicaid. I know that my neighbor isn't on her $17K social security benefits before deductions and that is before any adjustment to gross income. As per the agencies here in MS.
Last edited by nun; Dec 11th 2016 at 7:19 pm.
#39
Re: First month in the US
Isn't the cost of Medicare just deducted at source from the social security payment, as opposed to being "provided"?
#40
Re: First month in the US
So she lives on the kindness of strangers.
#42
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Re: First month in the US
I have spent most of the day searching for the Heath insurance. I found out I am not eligible for Medicaid but I can buy Health insurance trough HealthCare.gov. I need to decide which one is a best for me. But also I need to study how it works. They say I eligible for a tax credit $630 each month. Will they take it of something in my tax return calculation?
I have to send them copy of my visa and prove of my income wich I haven't got with me. I will be going back to UK end of January and then I can send it.
I think I will get a cheapest monthly cost with a big out-of-pocket cost. Hopefully I won't need to go to the doctors next year and after that I will have a better idea.
Thank you all of you for your opinions, advises and good wishes.
Sorry to hear about poor woman who is suffering alone.
I have to send them copy of my visa and prove of my income wich I haven't got with me. I will be going back to UK end of January and then I can send it.
I think I will get a cheapest monthly cost with a big out-of-pocket cost. Hopefully I won't need to go to the doctors next year and after that I will have a better idea.
Thank you all of you for your opinions, advises and good wishes.
Sorry to hear about poor woman who is suffering alone.
#43
Re: First month in the US
That said, paying high premiums ane then not being ill does seem like flushing money down the toilet
Last edited by Pulaski; Dec 12th 2016 at 2:33 am.
#44
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Location: Ohio
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Re: First month in the US
Don't leave applying until you have your paperwork. There is a limited open enrollment period for being able to sign up for 2017, so make sure you get insured and then follow up with income verification afterwards. This may mean you have to pay the premiums in full for a month or two before they can get your subsidy in place, but it'll be refunded next year via your tax return if your income is the same as your estimate. But get something in place otherwise you'll not only have no health insurance for 2017 should you fall ill, you'll also have to pay a fine.
#45
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,175
Re: First month in the US
Don't leave applying until you have your paperwork. There is a limited open enrollment period for being able to sign up for 2017, so make sure you get insured and then follow up with income verification afterwards. This may mean you have to pay the premiums in full for a month or two before they can get your subsidy in place, but it'll be refunded next year via your tax return if your income is the same as your estimate. But get something in place otherwise you'll not only have no health insurance for 2017 should you fall ill, you'll also have to pay a fine.