Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, no payments could be made to beneficiaries in that country because the Soviet Union authorities would not give SSA free access to beneficiaries and vital statistics records in that country.

When Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became independent countries in September 1991, we requested the Department of State contact the officials of those governments and secure

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  free access for the agency, and the Department of State as our representative, to individuals and vital statistics records in those countries; and

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  information about the social insurance systems of those countries.

When the Soviet Union ceased to exist as a political entity in January 1992, we asked the Department of State to secure similar information from the authorities in each of the other former republics.

The following former republics of the Soviet Union have since formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.):

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  Armenia;

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  Azerbaijan;

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  Belarus;

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  Kazakhstan;

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  Kyrgyzstan;

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  Moldova;

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  Russia (the Russian Federation);

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  Tajikistan;

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  Turkmenistan;

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  Ukraine; and

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  Uzbekistan.

The following former republics of the Soviet Union have since become independent countries outside the C.I.S.:

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  Estonia;

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  Georgia;

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  Latvia; and

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  Lithuania.

If an inquiry is received from, or on behalf of, an individual who wants to move to one of the former Soviet republics to which payments are restricted, advise the inquirer that no payments can be made to, or on behalf of, beneficiaries in that country at this time. Explain that no payments can be made until an agreement is reached with the government of that country about procedures for verifying that the payment of benefits is possible and for an orderly method of check delivery.

Advise the beneficiary that if they move to the country, they should give us their complete address so that we can contact them when payments to the country are permitted.

For information about the special payment procedure in that country see RS 02650.040. Do not explain the special procedure if it is clear that the beneficiary would not be eligible for payment (e.g. no exception to the alien nonpayment provision is met).

If the beneficiary already moved to one of the former Soviet republics to which payments are restricted, suspend payments and handle as explained in RS 02650.020C. Obtain the beneficiary's address so that we can contact them promptly when payments to that country are permitted.

For information about the special payment procedure in that country see RS 02650.040. Do not explain the special procedure if it is clear that the beneficiary would not be eligible for payment (e.g., no exception to the alien nonpayment provision is met).