Effective Dates: 09/13/1995 - Present Previous | Next

TN 7 (09-95)

RS 02650.124 Determining Citizenship of Beneficiaries in Albania Before September 1992

A. INTRODUCTION

Evidence of a beneficiary's citizenship is needed to determine whether:

  • •

    monthly benefits can be paid to the beneficiary; or

  • •

    an underpayment is due on behalf of a beneficiary who died outside the U.S. and the amount of any such underpayment.

Many beneficiaries who moved to Albania were confused about their citizenship, as were their survivors. Thus, statements of citizenship are not always reliable, especially if the beneficiary died many years ago in Albania,

B. POLICY

1. General

Absent information to the contrary, SSA assumes that an individual born in Albania is an Albanian citizen.

Proof of current citizenship must be secured for any beneficiary who claims to be a citizen of the U.S. or a country other than Albania, and who moved to Albania before September 1992.

2. Beneficiary Deceased

If a deceased beneficiary was a U.S. citizen, the evidence must show that he/ she retained that citizenship until death, or if it was lost, when it was lost.

If the death certificate shows the deceased was an Albanian citizen, SSA assumes this is correct if:

  • •

    the folder cannot be located and there is no evidence/information indicating naturalization;

  • •

    the folder is located and there is no evidence/information indicating naturalization; or

  • •

    the folder contains a statement (including an SSA-21) by the deceased showing that he/she is an Albanian citizen and there is no later statement alleging naturalization.

3. Proof of Citizenship

An Optional Form-180 (formerly FS-192), Report of the Death of an American Citizen Abroad, is evidence that the deceased was a U.S. citizen at the time of death.

Proof of current citizenship is any of the following issued by the country of citizenship or one of its diplomatic offices:

  • •

    a passport issued after August 1992;

  • •

    a statement, or finding, of citizenship issued by an appropriate authority (i.e., a consular official or other official as shown in RS 02640.060) after August 1992;

  • •

    an FSP statement showing that the beneficiary registered as a citizen of that country at the FSP after August 1992; or

  • •

    evidence showing the beneficiary traveled outside Albania after August 1992 on a passport issued by that country (including one issued before September 1992).

C. PROCEDURE

If the Albanian death certificate shows the NH (or spouse if he/she ever lived in the U.S.) was an Albanian citizen, examine the claims folder for information on whether he/she was naturalized.

If the folder indicates that the deceased was naturalized as a U.S. citizen, advise the U.S. Embassy of this and request that it make a determination on whether the deceased was a U.S. citizen at the time of death, and if appropriate, the date that citizenship was lost.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302650124
RS 02650.124 - Determining Citizenship of Beneficiaries in Albania Before September 1992 - 09/13/1995
Batch run: 09/13/1995
Rev:09/13/1995