GN 01733.120 U.S. Totalization Benefits under the U.S. - Luxembourg Agreement

Under the Agreement, if a number holder (NH) has at least six U.S. Quarters of Coverage (QCs), but not enough to receive U.S. benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) can count the NH's periods of work under the Luxembourg social security system. These periods may permit the NH (or any dependents or survivors) to qualify for U.S. Totalization benefits. If the NH has enough QCs under the U.S. system to qualify for U.S. benefits, SSA cannot count Luxembourg credits.

A. Claims adjudication and processing responsibilities under the Agreement

1. SSA Field Office (FO)

When a NH does not have enough U.S. coverage to meet fully insured status, but the NH has at least six U.S. QCs. FO technicians must take the initial claim to process the insured status denial (see GN 01702.310 – GN 01702.525). This action automatically sends a notice informing the applicant that the applicant does not meet insured status based solely on U.S. coverage, and that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is requesting the Luxembourg coverage record.

The FO routes the claim to:

Social Security Administration

Division of International Operations

P.O. Box 17769

Baltimore, MD 21235-7769

FAX number: 410-966-1861

If a courier service is used, mail to:

Social Security Administration

Division of International Operations

6100 Wabash Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21215

2. SSA Division of International Operations (DIO)

DIO requests and converts Luxembourg periods of coverage on the Luxembourg earnings record to U.S. QCs before adjudicating the claim.

B. Crediting Luxembourg coverage

SSA credits one U.S. QC for every three (3) months or remaining fraction of Luxembourg coverage in a calendar year.

NOTE: Luxembourg measures their coverage in months.

SSA does not credit coverage for:

•

Any month in a calendar quarter that is already credited as a U.S. QC; or
•

More than four (4) QCs for any calendar year.

C. Computing benefits in the United States

When establishing U.S. insured status based on combined U.S. and Luxembourg coverage, the amount of the U.S. Totalization benefit will be determined using the computation method described in GN 01701.200.

D. References

•

GN 01701.200, Totalization Computations.
•

GN 01702.310, Routing of Claims for U.S. Benefits Involving Totalization.
•

GN 01702.315, Processing Totalization Insured-Status Notices in Claims for U.S. Benefits.
•

GN 01702.320, Routing of Claims for Foreign Benefits.
•

GN 01702.325, Summary of Field Office Development and Processing of U.S. Totalization Claims and Foreign Claims (Regular and Totalization).
•

GN 01702.400, Developing Medical Evidence in Claims for U.S. Totalization Disability Benefits.
•

GN 01702.405, Associating Evidence From Prior Disability Folders.
•

GN 01702.410, Routing of Claims for U.S. Totalization Disability Benefits.
•

GN 01702.415, Development of Medical Evidence and Routing of Claims for Foreign Disability Benefits.
•

GN 01702.420, Disability Determination Services (DDS) Processing of Totalization Claims.
•

GN 01702.500, Filing Appeals of Decisions on U.S. or Foreign Claims.
•

GN 01702.505, Representation of Applicants in Totalization Claims.
•

GN 01702.510, Disclosure of Information to Totalization Agreement Countries.
•

GN 01702.515, Applicability of Annual Earnings Test/Foreign Work Test.
•

GN 01702.520, Status Request and Post-Adjudicative Actions in Totalization Claims.
•

GN 01702.525, Totalization Coding.
•

GN 01733.020, Luxembourg Social Security Benefits Eligibility Requirements.
•

GN 01733.215, Application for Benefits Under the Luxembourg Agreement.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201733120

GN 01733.120 - U.S. Totalization Benefits under the U.S. - Luxembourg Agreement - 02/08/2023
Batch run: 02/08/2023
Rev:02/08/2023

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)