GN 01745.120 U.S. Totalization Benefits under the Japanese 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 Japanese Social Security system 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 Japanese Contributory Coverage

SSA will credit one U.S. QC for every 3 months or remaining fraction of Japanese coverage in a calendar year. (Japanese coverage is measured in months.) However, no credit will be given for:

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any month in a calendar quarter that is already credited as a U.S. QC, or
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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 Japanese 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) when the worker has at least 6 QCs 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 foreign coverage record is being requested.

2. Office of International Operations Responsibilities

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

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201745120

GN 01745.120 - U.S. Totalization Benefits under the Japanese Agreement - 09/26/2005
Batch run: 09/26/2005
Rev:09/26/2005

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)