Dependents and survivors benefits generally may not be paid to aliens who have been
outside the United States for more than 6 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 United States has a Totalization
agreement are exempt from these requirements unless the agreement includes a limitation
on the exemption. The U.S.-Canadian agreement does not contain a limitation. Therefore,
Canadian citizens, regardless of where they reside, and residents of Canada are exempt
from these requirements.