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
the 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 the agreement includes a limitation on the
exemption. The U.S. - Belgian agreement does not contain a limitation. Therefore,
Belgian citizens, regardless of where they reside, and residents of Belgium are exempt
from these requirements.