TN 4 (07-96)

GN 01707.136 Retroactive Voluntary Contributions by Ethnic German Jews from Eastern Europe

A. Background

A second supplementary Social Security agreement with Germany, which became effective May 1, 1996, permits certain ethnic German Jews who fled their homelands in Eastern Europe for fear of persecution and who now reside in the United States to make retroactive voluntary contributions to the German Social Security system. These retroactive voluntary contributions are different from the voluntary contributions described in GN 01707.135. Making these retroactive voluntary contributions can help a person establish entitlement to a German benefit or increase the amount of a benefit already being paid by Germany.

German benefits based on these voluntary contributions can be paid as far back as July 1990. As a result, the amount of retroactive benefits payable will usually exceed the amount of voluntary contributions due, so there will be no cost to the beneficiary.

Further information about these contributions and who can make them is contained in the factsheet exhibit in GN 01707.137.

Germany has developed a special application form called the D/USA ZA which must be completed by people who wish to apply for the right to make retroactive voluntary contributions. The D/USA ZA may also serve as an application for German Social Security benefits (both life and death) for people who wish to claim German benefits at the same time they apply to make reroactive voluntary contributions.

The D/USA ZA is not stocked in SSA FO's but can be obtained from German consular offices throughout the United States. It is a bilingual (German and English) self-help form that includes completion instructions as well as a list of documents that may be submitted to support the claim.

B. Policy

The Social Security Administration does not take applications to make voluntary contributions to the German system. Individuals who wish to apply to make voluntary contributions must do so directly with the German authorities.

C. Procedure

Provide any individual who asks for information about making voluntary contributions, or who wishes to apply to make voluntary contributions with a copy of the factsheet in GN 01707.137. Refer the person to the nearest German consular office to obtain application form D/USA ZA if they wish to make the voluntary contributions. Advise the person the D/USA ZA should be completed and returned directly to Germany.

NOTE: If the person returns the D/USA ZA to the FO, treat it as an applicaiton for a monthly pension. Date stamp the form in any available space on the front page and use the D/USA ZA in lieu of a D/USA 1 or D/USA 2. Do not have the applicant complete a D/USA 1 or D/USA 2 (GN 01707.220). Obtain an “ST” type earnings record and forward the application, earnings record and any related documentation to OIO in accordance with GN 01702.310.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201707136
GN 01707.136 - Retroactive Voluntary Contributions by Ethnic German Jews from Eastern Europe - 05/28/1997
Batch run: 03/06/2014
Rev:05/28/1997