BASIC (03-01)
GN 01741.210 Developing Evidence in Claims for Korean Benefits
A. Introduction
The following subsections show the types of evidence that may be used to support claims for Korean benefits.
B. Policy — General
Under the agreement with Korea, SSA will take applications for both regular and Totalization benefits on behalf of Korea and provide limited assistance in obtaining evidence needed to support the claim.
C. Policy — Using U.S. evidence
Evidence that is used to establish a factor of entitlement for U.S. Social Security benefits may also be used by Korea to establish the same factor for Korean benefits. Consequently, it is unnecessary for the applicant to submit additional evidence to document a factor of entitlement for Korean benefits when that factor has already been verified for SSA purposes.
D. Policy — Entitlement factors
The following indicates what factors of entitlement, in addition to insured status, must be established in claims for Korean benefits.
1. Retirement
The entitlement factors that must be established for Korean retirement claims are:
Worker's date of birth
Marriage, if spouse's supplement is claimed
Age and relationship of child, if child's supplement is claimed
Age, marriage and divorce, if divorced spouse's benefit is claimed
Age and relationship of parent, if parent's (or spouse's parent's) supplement is claimed
2. Survivors
The entitlement factors that must be established for Korean survivors claims are:
Death of worker
Date of marriage
Widower's age and disability status
Relationship and age or disability status of child or grandchild
Relationship and age or disability status of parents or grandparents (including spouse's parents or grandparents)
3. Disability
The entitlement factors that must be established for Korean disability claims are:
Age of worker
Degree of disability (medical evidence)
Marriage, if spouse's supplement is claimed
Age, marriage and divorce, if divorced spouse's benefit is claimed
Age and relationship of child, if child's supplement is claimed
Age and relationship of parent, if parent's (or spouse's parent's) supplement is claimed
E. Procedure — General
Take the following actions when developing evidence to support claims for Korean benefits.
1. Accepting 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.
CAUTION: Do not hold claims for Korean 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 the Office of International Operations (OIO) without the evidence. Advise the applicant that the responsible Korean agency will contact him/her directly to obtain any needed evidence.
2. Types of Evidence
If the applicant requests guidance on the type of evidence to submit, see:
Proof of age in GN 00302.000 ff.
Proof of date of birth for applicants born in South Korea, GN 00307.845
3. Document the File
Document the file to show when a factor of entitlement for a Korean benefit has already been verified for a U.S. claim.
a. Concurrent Title II/Korean Claim
Send a certified photocopy of the relevant evidence with the Korean claim to OIO if the concurrent Title II claim will be sent to a program service center (PSC) other than OIO.
b. Prior Title II Claim
Include a master beneficiary record (MBR) printout in the claims file sent to OIO to show which factors, other than disability, have been verified in a prior file.
4. Obtain Record of Number Holder's (NH's) U.S. Coverage
Obtain a record of the NH's U.S. coverage in all claims for Korean benefits. When the applicant is filing for both U.S. and Korean benefits, completion of the modernized claims system (MCS) screens will automatically generate a separate earnings record for the Korean claim. When a claimant files for Korean benefits only, which is a complex MCS exclusion, request an Informational/Certified Earnings Record (ICERS) per MSOM ICERS 001.004 .
Obtain proof of lag earnings if U.S. covered work in the lag period is alleged and the applicant is filing for any Korean benefit.
F. Procedure — Disability claims
Take the following actions when developing medical evidence for Korean disability claims.
1. Korean Benefits Only
For Korean benefits only, accept any medical evidence the applicant wishes to submit. Do not attempt to secure evidence for the applicant or offer advice as to what types of evidence are needed by Korea.
Access the Totalization Benefits Resource Kit on the Intranet here.
Print the Korean Medical Report form (KOR/USA-1-M) and give it to the applicant. Advise the applicant it is his/her responsibility to get his/her doctor to complete the medical report.
Instruct the applicant to return the completed Korean Medical Report form directly to the Korean National Pension Corporation at the address shown in GN 01741.020C.
Send any medical evidence that is submitted along with the claims file to OIO at the address in GN 01702.310.
Transmit the file without medical evidence if it is not readily available and advise the applicant that the Korean agency will contact him/her directly, if necessary, to obtain needed evidence.
2. Korean Benefits and Concurrent Title II Claim
Access the Totalization Benefits Resource Kit on the Intranet here.
Print the Korean Medical Report form (KOR/USA-1-M) and give it to the applicant. Advise the applicant it is his/her responsibility to get his/her doctor to complete the medical report.
Instruct the applicant to return the completed Korean Medical Report form directly to the Korean National Pension Corporation at the address shown in GN 01741.020C.
Follow the instructions in GN 01702.400-GN 01702.415 to process claims for Korean disability benefits and concurrent title II disability claims.
G. References
Developing evidence of date of birth for applicants born in South Korea, GN 00307.845
Requesting an Informational/Certified Earnings Record, MSOM ICERS 001.004
Certifying evidence for Totalization claims, GN 00301.105
Lag earnings, RS 01404.005
Completing the SSA-2490 on MCS, MSOM MCS 007.001