The entitlement factors that must be established for all French claims are:

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  age of worker

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  type of covered work performed in U.S. if benefits claimed under one of the French occupational systems (see GN 01723.015)

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  citizenship of claimant(s)

The additional entitlement factors that must be established for French retirement claims are:

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  age of spouse and date of marriage, if spouse's supplement claimed

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  age and relationship of child, if child's supplement claimed

The additional entitlement factors that must be established for French survivors claims are:

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  age of surviving spouse and date of marriage if widow(er) benefit claimed

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  date of divorce, if divorced widow(er) benefit claimed

The only additional entitlement factor that must be established for French disability claims is the degree of disability i.e., medical evidence.

Accept any evidence the applicant wishes to submit. If the applicant does not want to release an original document, photocopy the evidence and certify the copy.

Applicants filing for Totalization benefits from one of the special occupational systems in France will need to establish the type of work the NH performed in the United States. If the applicant asks for guidance, suggest that he/she obtain a statement from the NH's employer showing the type of occupation and the dates of employment in that occupation.

CAUTION: Do not hold claims for French benefits for prolonged periods pending receipt of evidence. If an applicant is unable to obtain needed evidence within a reasonable time, transmit the claim to OIO without the evidence. Advise the applicant that the responsible French agency will contact him/her directly to obtain any evidence it needs.

If the applicant requests guidance on the type of evidence to submit, see:

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  Proof of age in GN 00302.000

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  Proof of death in GN 00304.000

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  Proof of marriage in GN 00305.000

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  Establishing U.S. Citizenship for All SSA Programs in GN 00303.300

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  Proof of parent/child relationship in GN 00306.000

Document the file to show when a factor of entitlement for a French benefit has already been verified for a U.S. claim.

Obtain a record of the NH's U.S. coverage including evidence of lag earnings through the quarter of filing or death in all claims for French benefits. Lag earnings are always needed since France counts a worker's U.S. QC's in computing the amount of the French benefit. When the applicant is filing for both U.S. and French benefits, completion of the MCS screens will automatically generate a separate earnings record for the French claim. When a claimant files for French benefits only, which is a complex MCS exclusion, request an Informational/Certified earnings record.

For French benefits only, accept any medical evidence the applicant wishes to submit. Do not attempt to secure evidence for the claimant or offer advice as to what types of evidence are needed by France.

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  Send any medical evidence that is submitted along with the claims file to OIO at the address in GN 01702.310.

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  Transmit the file without medical evidence if it is not readily available and advise the claimant that the French agency will contact him/ her, if necessary, to obtain needed evidence.

Follow the instructions in GN 01702.200 -GN 01702.215 to process claims for French disability benefits and concurrent title II disability claims.