Foreign Spouse need SSN or ITIN to collect spousal SS?

[stewak2]

Dual Citizen, Canadian resident, Canadian spouse, worked in US beyond 40 quarters for SS.
Spouse has never worked or resided in US.
Spouse will be eligible to 1/2 my FRA amount at her FRA.
She does not have a US SSN nor a ITIN.
Does she need one or both to collect her US SS?
I have been filing MFS and never claiming her as dependent, it appears from W-7 she cannot get an ITIN as a dependent.
Would the SSA assign her a non-work SSN at time of application ( she is not at FRA yet and I am not collecting yet - this is preparation ).
Thanks in advance

[nelsona]

Ignoring the (non-answer) responses to your question posted elsewhere, your spouse will need an SSN (it will be a non-working SSN) to collect, and it will be issued during the application process. They will fill the SSA-2 form to get things rolling (when they fill with ID/citizenship. Age and marriage proof), a few months before they wish to begin collecting benefits -- which can be as early as 62, no need for either of you to wait until FRA if it doesn't suit your situation. Likely a specialist from an international bureau (currently in Baltimore) will get involved to confirm Totalization requirements,

If you begin SS before your spouse (I believe the spouse cannot collect spousal benefits until your apply for yours) , it would be good to try to have your spouse "attached" to your record at that time, which will save some time when she eventually applies.

If MFS is fine for your tax situation, then I would not bother trying to have spouse qualify to obtain an ITIN. They won't need to file taxes in US simply for collecting SS, by treaty, and getting an ITIN from outside US is a headache these days even if one does qualify.

[stewak2]

Thank you, as always, Nelson