Section 202(t)(1) of the Social Security Act provides that certain individuals who
are not U.S. citizens or nationals may not be paid Social Security benefits once they
have been outside the United States for more than 6 consecutive calendar months.
However, a Totalization agreement may provide that an individual who resides in the
foreign country that is party to the agreement may be paid benefits without regard
to the section 202(t)(1) payment bar. The U.S.-Polish Totalization agreement provides
for payments to such persons while they are residing in Poland who receive retirement,
survivors or disability insurance benefits as well as those who receive Totalization
benefits.
NOTE: Polish citizens were exempt from the alien nonpayment provisions, prior to the effective
date of the agreement. As of March 1957, we found Poland to meet the requirements
under section 202(t)(2). For Status of Countries for Applying Exceptions Based on
Citizenship, see RS 02610.015. See GN 01751.145 Exceptions to Section 202(t)(11) Alien Nonpayment provision for additional U.S. residency
requirements for certain dependents and survivors.