Effective Dates: 02/24/2003 - Present Previous | Next

TN 3 (02-03)

GN 01717.120 U.S. Totalization Benefits Under the Swedish Agreement

A. Policy — General

Under the agreement, if a number holder (NH) has at least 6 U.S. quarters of coverage (QCs) but not enough to be insured for regular U.S. benefits, the NH's credits under the Swedish supplementary (ATP) pension program can be added to his or her U.S. coverage to permit the NH (or any dependents or survivors) to qualify for U.S. Totalization benefits.

B. Policy — Crediting Swedish coverage

SSA will credit 4 U.S. QCs for each year of Swedish coverage under the supplementary (ATP) pension program. (Swedish coverage is measured in calendar years known as “pension point years.”) However, no credit will be given for:

  • •

    any calendar quarter within a pension point year that is already credited as a U.S. QC, or

  • •

    more than 4 QCs for any calendar year.

C. Policy — Computing benefits

When U.S. insured status is established based on combined U.S. and Swedish coverage, the amount of the U.S. Totalization benefit will be determined using the computation method described in GN 01701.200.

D. Policy — Adjudication responsibility

1. Field Office Responsibilities

Field offices (FOs) are responsible for processing an initial insured status denial (see GN 01702.315 - GN 01702.120) when the worker has at least 6 QC's but is not insured based on U.S. coverage alone. This denial will produce a notice advising the applicant that insured status is not met based on U.S. coverage alone and that the Swedish coverage record is being requested.

2. Office of International Operations Responsibilities

The Office of International Operations (OIO) will request the Swedish coverage record. When the record is received, OIO will convert the Swedish coverage to QC's and finally adjudicate the claim.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201717120
GN 01717.120 - U.S. Totalization Benefits Under the Swedish Agreement - 02/24/2003
Batch run: 03/27/2014
Rev:02/24/2003