The Social Security Agreement between the United States and Australia

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

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

The Agreement with Australia became effective October 1, 2002.

We can use periods of U.S. and Australian coverage a worker earned prior to October 1, 2002, to establish entitlement to U.S. or Australian Totalization benefits. However, the earliest possible month of entitlement to such benefits is October 2002.

This subchapter provides:

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  a brief overview of the Australian system;

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  an explanation of the provisions of the Agreement, and

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  instructions on how to take and process claims for both U.S. and Australian social security benefits filed under the Agreement.