An applicant filing for benefits under the Agreement with Finland 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 Finland, or from both countries.
The Form SSA-2490-BK is available through MCS, but claims-taking personnel may only
use the MCS version when the number holder (NH) is filing for
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•
U.S. retirement or disability Totalization benefits alone; or
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•
U.S. retirement or disability benefits (regular or Totalization) and concurrently
for Finnish benefits.
Claims-taking personnel may not use the MCS version of the Form SSA-2490-BK to assist applicants in filing for:
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•
Finnish benefits only; or
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•
U.S. or Finnish survivors benefits.
The applicant must use a paper Form SSA-2490-BK application form in the latter cases.
It is not necessary to take a SSA-2490-BK in claims for U.S. auxiliary benefits in
life cases since claims-taking personnel completed this form previously in connection
with the NH's claim.)
Claimants may file applications for Finnish benefits up to six months in advance of
the entitlement date.