The Agreement liberalizes the residence requirements that apply to National Pension benefits (see GN 01731.020). Under the Agreement, U.S. citizens residing in the United States or Finland, and Finnish citizens residing in the United States, may qualify for National Pension benefits if they meet the following residence requirements.

Under Finnish law, a person must reside in Finland to qualify for a National Pension disability benefit. The Agreement does not change this requirement. However, a person who qualifies and subsequently moves to the United States may continue receiving National Pension disability benefits if they resided in Finland for at least 5 continuous years after age 16.

Finland does not need to take U.S. coverage into account in determining Earnings-Related Pension benefit eligibility. A person's right to a benefit under the Earnings-Related Pension is immediately vested once the person begins to work in covered employment or self-employment.

However, when determining the amount of an Earnings-Related Pension survivor or disability benefit, Finland may count the years between the date of death or disability onset and age 65 (called future years) as actual years of coverage. This will increase the amount of the Earnings-Related Pension benefit. To receive credit for future years, the worker must reside in Finland for at least five years. In addition, the death or disability must occur while the worker is engaged in a covered work activity or within one year thereafter.

Under the Agreement, Finland will count U.S. coverage to meet the Finnish residence and coverage requirements for granting future years when determining the amount of an Earnings-Related Pension survivors or disability benefit.