Dependents and survivors benefits generally may not be paid to aliens who have been
outside the United States for more than six months and who first became eligible for
benefits after 1984, unless they satisfy certain U.S. residency requirements (5-year
residency rule).
As explained in GN 01701.150A.2., citizens or residents of a country with which the U.S. has a Totalization agreement
are exempt from these requirements unless an agreement includes a limitation on the
exemption. The U.S. - Spanish agreement does not contain a limitation. Therefore,
Spanish citizens, regardless of where they reside, and residents of Spain are exempt
from these requirements.