An applicant filing for benefits under the agreement with Austria must complete Form SSA-2490-BK (Application For Benefits Under a U.S. International Social Security Agreement). This is true whether the applicant is filing for benefits only from the United States, only from Austria, or from both countries.

In addition to Form SSA-2490-BK, an applicant for Austrian benefits must complete one or more special Austrian application forms. The form(s) will vary depending on the type of benefit. Field Offices (FO) do not take these application forms. After receiving a claim for Austrian benefits filed with SSA, the Austrian agency will:

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  mail the appropriate Austrian application forms to the applicant; and

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  include instructions for the applicant to complete the forms so the applicant can mail the forms directly to the Austrian agency (along with any additional required evidence).

Form SSA-2490-BK (Application for Benefits under a U.S. International Social Security Agreement) is available through MCS. The MCS version of Form SSA-2490-BK is an option for filing only when the number holder (NH) is filing for:

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  U.S. retirement or disability Totalization benefits only; or

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  U.S. retirement or disability benefits (regular or Totalization) and concurrently for Austrian benefits.

Do not use the MCS version of Form SSA-2490-BK when the applicant is filing for:

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  Austrian benefits only; or

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  U.S. or Austrian survivors benefits.

Use the paper or electronic Form SSA-2490-BK for Totalization survivor claims. For instructions on how to complete the SSA-2490-BK, see GN 01702.110.

NOTE: It is not necessary to take an SSA-2490-BK in claims for U.S. auxiliary benefits in life cases or in survivor cases where there was a previously approved award in a life case, since the NH previously completed one in connection with their application for benefits.

Use the following information to determine the application screens to complete when taking claims under the agreement with Austria for U.S. Totalization or Austrian benefits.

Along with the form SSA-2490-BK, an applicant for Austrian benefits must complete one or more special Austrian application forms. The form(s) required vary depending on the type of benefit claimed.

FOs do not take the special Austrian application forms. After receiving an application for Austrian benefits filed with SSA, the Austrian agency mails the appropriate Austrian application forms to the applicant. The Austrian agency instructs the applicant to complete the forms and mail them directly to the Austrian agency with any required evidence for the application process.

If an applicant brings one of the Austrian application forms to the FO, the FO should:

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  accept, photocopy, and certify the photocopied application;

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  photocopy and certify any additional documents (evidence) the Austrian agency requested the applicant to include with the Austrian claim;

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  request an "Informational/Certified Earnings Record" (ICERS) as described in MS ICERS 02101.004;

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  return to the applicant any original evidence documents and the certified photocopy of the application; and

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  send the original Austrian application and any certified photocopies or additional claims material to the Division of International Operations (DIO) in Baltimore at the following address:

Once DIO receives the claim, they will send the claim directly to the Austrian agency along with the evidence and the worker's U.S. earnings record. DIO will annotate the MDW to show the type of claim and the date they forwarded the claim to the Austrian agency.