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

TN 3 (02-03)

GN 01717.210 Developing Evidence in Claims for Swedish Benefits

A. Introduction

The following subsections show the types of evidence that may be used to support claims for Swedish benefits.

B. Policy — General

Under the agreement with Sweden, SSA will take applications for both regular and Totalization benefits on behalf of Sweden and provide limited assistance in obtaining evidence needed to support the claim.

C. Policy — Using evidence submitted in claim for U.S. benefits

Evidence that is used to establish a factor of entitlement for U.S. Social Security benefits may also be used by Sweden to establish the same factor for Swedish benefits. Consequently, it is unnecessary for the applicant to submit additional evidence to document a factor of entitlement for Swedish benefits when that factor has already been verified for SSA purposes.

D. Policy — Entitlement factors

The following indicates what factors of entitlement, in addition to insured status, must be established in claims for Swedish benefits.

1. Retirement Claims

The entitlement factors that must be established for Swedish retirement claims are:

  1. a. 

    Age of worker

  2. b. 

    Marriage, if a wife's supplement to the basic pension is claimed.

2. Survivors Claims

The entitlement factors that must be established for Swedish survivors' claims are:

  1. a. 

    Death of worker

  2. b. 

    Age of all claimants

  3. c. 

    Marriage, if a widow(er)'s benefit is claimed

  4. d. 

    Relationship of child, if a child's benefit is claimed.

3. Disability Claims

The entitlement factors that must be established for Swedish disability claims are:

  1. a. 

    Age of worker

  2. b. 

    Degree of disability (medical evidence)

  3. c. 

    Marriage, if a wife's supplement to the basic pension is claimed.

E. Procedure — General

Take the following actions when developing evidence to support claims for Swedish benefits.

1. Accepting Evidence

Accept any evidence the applicant wishes to submit. If the applicant does not want to release an original document, photocopy the evidence and certify the copy.

CAUTION: Do not hold claims for Swedish benefits for prolonged periods pending receipt of evidence. If an applicant is unable to obtain needed evidence within a reasonable time, transmit the claim to the Office of International Operations (OIO) without the evidence. Advise the applicant that the responsible Swedish agency will contact him or her directly to obtain any evidence it needs.

2. Types of Evidence

If the applicant requests guidance on the type of evidence to submit, see:

  1. a. 

    Proof of age in GN 00302.000

  2. b. 

    Proof of death in GN 00304.000

  3. c. 

    Proof of marriage in GN 00305.000

  4. d. 

    Proof of parent/child relationship in GN 00306.000.

3. Document the File

Document the file to show when a factor of entitlement for a Swedish benefit has already been verified for a U.S. claim.

a. Concurrent Title II/Swedish Claim

Send a certified photocopy of the relevant evidence with the Swedish claim to OIO if the concurrent Title II claim will be sent to a program service center (PSC) other than OIO.

b. Prior Title II Claim

Include a master beneficiary record (MBR) printout in the claims file sent to OIO to show which factors, other than disability, have been verified in a prior file.

4. Obtain Record of the Number Holder's (NH's) U.S. Coverage

  1. a. 

    Obtain a record of the NH's U.S. coverage in all claims for Swedish benefits. When the applicant is filing for both U.S. and Swedish benefits, completion of the modernized claims system (MCS) screens will automatically generate a separate earnings record for the Swedish claim. When a claimant files for Swedish benefits only, which is a complex MCS exclusion, request an Informational/Certified Earnings Record (ICERS) per MSOM ICERS 001.004.

  2. b. 

    If the NH has fewer than 8 U.S. quarters of coverage, develop any lag earnings or unposted military service.

F. Procedure — Disability claims

In addition to taking the actions in GN 01717.210E., take the following actions when developing medical evidence for Swedish disability claims.

1. Swedish Benefits Only

  1. a. 

    Accept any medical evidence the applicant wishes to submit when the claim is for Swedish benefits only. Do not attempt to secure evidence for the applicant or offer advice as to what types of evidence are needed by Sweden.

  2. b. 

    Send any medical evidence that is submitted along with the claims file to OIO.

  3. c. 

    Transmit the file without medical evidence if it is not readily available and advise the applicant that the Swedish agency will contact him or her directly, if necessary, to obtain needed evidence.

2. Swedish Benefits and Concurrent Title II Claim

Follow the instructions in GN 01702.200 - GN 01702.215 to process claims for Swedish disability benefits and concurrent title II disability claims.

G. References

  • •

    Requesting an Informational/Certified Earnings Record, MSOM 231-C

  • •

    Certifying evidence for Totalization claims, GN 00301.105

  • •

    Totalization requirements, MSOM MCS 009.011

  • •

    Lag earnings, RS 01404.005

  • •

    Completing the SSA-2490 on MCS, MSOM MCS 007.001

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201717210
GN 01717.210 - Developing Evidence in Claims for Swedish Benefits - 02/24/2003
Batch run: 03/27/2014
Rev:02/24/2003