The provisions of the agreement that permit people to qualify for benefits based on combined U.S. and German coverage credits apply to the following types of benefits:

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  U.S. retirement, survivors and disability benefits. (The agreement does not apply to Medicare benefits or Supplemental Security Income payments.)

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  German old-age, survivors and disability benefits (but not benefits under other programs, such as the German Family Allowance program, the supplementary pension system for steelworkers or the old-age assistance program for self-employed farmers).

The provisions of the agreement that eliminate dual Social Security coverage and taxation apply to:

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  U.S. Social Security taxes including the Medicare portion.

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  German Social Security taxes that finance old-age, survivors and disability pensions.

Under the terms of a supplementary agreement that entered into force on April 1, 1996, the agreement also extends to German taxes that finance sickness benefits and long-term nursing care.