Effective Dates: 02/17/2026 - Present Previous | Next

TN 3 (02-26)

GN 01716.005 How the Division of International Operations (DIO) Modules Review and Complete Claims Taken by a Field Office (FO) or Canadian Agency

A. Process

The FO stocks applications required by the agreement/understanding, including the special applications required for Ottawa and Quebec. All claims for U.S. benefits filed under the Canadian Agreement/Quebec Understanding, with the rare exception of claims filed in a third country, should arrive in DIO fully developed.

Furthermore, claims filed in Canada should contain a copy of the Canadian coverage record and be ready for adjudication of the totalization claim. This is because all claims originating in Canada are sent, along with a copy of the Canadian coverage record, directly to the servicing border office for complete development of the U.S. claim and an initial insured status denial.

Furthermore, when claims originate in a designated border office, that office requests that a copy of the Canadian coverage record be sent to DIO, as well as fully developing all claims and adjudicating the initial insured status denial.

B. Procedure — claims origin

1. Claim originated in designated border FO

See list of designated border FOs in GN 01715.320

  1. a. 

    Ensure the U.S. totalization claims file contains:

    • •

      U.S. national application(s)

    • •

      SSA-2490-F4

    • •

      All required evidence

      NOTE: If any of the above is missing, request it from the FO.

    • •

      U.S. earnings record (if missing, request from DEBS)

    • •

      Copy of SSA-e2960-U3-CQrequesting Canadian coverage record (if missing, request from Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP))

    • •

      026 denial (if missing, include with totalization decision if Canadian coverage record in file)

  2. b. 

    Ensure the Canadian claims file contains an SSA-e2960-U3-CQshowing that any claims for QPP, CPP, or Old Age Security (OAS) benefits were sent to the correct agency. If missing, prepare claim(s) package(s) for Ottawa/Quebec.

2. Claim originated in non-border FO

  1. a. 

    Be sure the U.S. totalization claims file contains:

    • •

      U.S. national application(s)

    • •

      SSA-2490-F4

    • •

      All required evidence

      NOTE: If any of the above is missing, request it from the FO.

    • •

      U.S. earnings record (if missing, request from DEBS)

    • •

      026 denial (if missing, process in DIO while awaiting Canadian coverage record)

  2. b. 

    Be sure the Canadian claims file contains:

    • •

      CDN/USA 1 and/or QUE/USA 1

    • •

      SSA-2490-F4

      NOTE: If any of the above is missing, request it from the FO.

    • •

      U.S. earnings record (if missing, request it from DEBS)

    • •

      Medical evidence

    • •

      Residence evidence

      NOTE: If no medical evidence or residence evidence submitted, do not request.

    Send claims package and if necessary request Canadian coverage record; see Preparing Claims Packages GN 01716.205.

3. Claim originated in Quebec/Ottawa

  1. a. 

    Be sure the U.S. totalization claims file contains:

    • •

      U.S. national application(s)

    • •

      All required evidence

      NOTE: If any of the above is missing, request it from the FO.

    • •

      U.S. earnings record (if missing, request it from DEBS)

    • •

      SSA-1294-F6-CN, if claim originated in Ottawa (do not request from CPP unless CPP did not certify a filing date)

    • •

      Canadian coverage record (request from CPP or QPP)

    • •

      026 denial (include with totalization decision if Canadian coverage record in file)

  2. b. 

    Ensure the Canadian claims file contains an CDN/USA 2 or QUE/USA 2 requesting a U.S. earnings record or other information. If missing, assume Canada needs no information from SSA.

    If information is requested, obtain the requested information and prepare a claims package; see preparing claims packages GN 01716.210.

C. Procedure — DAESS

For claims originating in Quebec, DIO and the Direction de l'Administration des ententes de securite sociale (DAESS) have agreed to the following:

IF   THEN
  • •

    the claimant does not choose the earliest possible MOE

  

 

include the claimant's explanation for choosing a later month
  • •

    the claimant indicates on a U.S. retirement or survivors application that he/she is disabled but does not want to file for disability benefits

 

 

provide an explanation of that decision in the remarks portion of the application
​ ​ ​

D. Reference

GN 01715.335 - GN 01715.340 An explanation of how the Canadian agencies process claims for U.S. benefits under the Canadian Agreement/Quebec understanding is given. These sections also describe FO processing of these claims.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201716005
GN 01716.005 - How the Division of International Operations (DIO) Modules Review and Complete Claims Taken by a Field Office (FO) or Canadian Agency - 02/17/2026
Batch run: 02/17/2026
Rev:02/17/2026