Basic (07-94)

GN 01737.120 U.S. Totalization Benefits

A. Policy -General

Under the agreement, if an NH has at least 6 quarters of U.S. coverage but not enough to be insured for regular U.S. benefits, the NH's credits under the Greek system can be added to his or her U.S. coverage to permit the NH (or any dependents or survivors) to qualify for U.S. totalization benefits.

B. Policy -Crediting greek coverage

SSA will credit one U.S. quarter of coverage for every 75 days of Greek coverage in a calendar year. (Greek coverage is measured in days.) However, no credit will be given for:

  • any day in a calendar quarter that is already credited as a U.S. quarter of coverage, or

  • more than 4 quarters of coverage for any calendar year.

C. Policy -Computing benefits

When U.S. insured status is established based on combined U.S. and Greek coverage, the amount of the U.S. totalization benefit will be determined using the computation method described in GN 01701.200.

D. Policy -Adjudication responsibility

The Office of International Operations (OIO) is responsible for converting Greek coverage to U.S. QC's and adjudicating claims for U.S. totalization benefits when the NH has at least 6 QC's but is not insured based on U.S. coverage alone.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201737120
GN 01737.120 - U.S. Totalization Benefits - 07/05/1994
Batch run: 04/22/2014
Rev:07/05/1994