The Social Security agreement between the United States and France:

• •

  eliminates dual Social Security coverage and taxation of the same work, and

• •

  permits workers (and their family members) to qualify for partial U.S. or French benefits, even though they do not meet the normal insured status requirements.

The following sections give a brief overview of the French system, explain the provisions of the agreement, and provide instructions on how to take and process claims for both U.S. and French benefits filed under the agreement.