Prior to January 1995, when the number holder (NH) is entitled to U.S. Totalization
benefits, we can combine the NH’s coverage from the foreign country in the Totalization
agreement with coverage in the U.S. to count YOCs for the YOCs WEP exception.
If the NH receives a pension from more than one foreign country with a Totalization
agreement, we only count coverage from one Totalization agreement country for YOCs.
Count coverage from the country with the greatest total years of foreign coverage,
even if it is not from the country on which we are basing the NH’s Totalization benefits.
NOTE: Entitlement to a disability benefit prior to 1986 may, under certain conditions (see
RS 00605.360C.4), except an individual from the application of WEP. Although the agreement with Germany
includes provisions that treat U.S. and German periods of disability the same for
certain purposes, entitlement to a German disability benefit prior to 1986 will not
except an individual from WEP.