Section 202(t)(1) of the Social Security Act generally provides that we do not pay
benefits to a beneficiary who:
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•
is not a U.S. citizen or national; and
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•
has been outside the United States for more than six consecutive calendar months.
Some beneficiaries may qualify for exceptions to the alien nonpayment provision.
In addition, section 202(t)(11) requires that certain dependents and survivors must
also meet a 5-year U.S. residency requirement.
Citizens of Uruguay were exempt from the alien nonpayment provision prior to the effective
date of the U.S. - Uruguayan agreement as described in RS 02610.015. However, Uruguayan citizen dependent and survivor beneficiaries also had to meet
a 5-year U.S. residency requirement to qualify for the alien nonpayment exemption.
Beginning with the effective date of the U.S. - Uruguayan agreement, dependent and
survivor beneficiaries who are residents of Uruguay do not have to meet the additional
5-year residency requirement because this agreement does not include a limitation
to this exemption.