TN 1 (12-02)

GN 01737.210 Developing Evidence in Claims for Greek Benefits

A. Introduction

The following subsections show the types of evidence that may be used to support claims for Greek benefits.

B. Policy — General

Under the agreement with Greece, SSA will take applications for both regular and Totalization benefits on behalf of Greece and provide limited assistance in obtaining evidence needed to support the claim.

C. Policy — using evidence submitted in claim for U.S. benefits

Evidence that is used to establish a factor of entitlement for U.S. Social Security benefits may also be used by Greece to establish the same factor for Greek benefits. Consequently, it is unnecessary for the applicant to submit additional evidence to document a factor of entitlement for Greek benefits when that factor has already been verified for SSA purposes.

D. Policy — entitlement factors

The following indicates what factors of entitlement must be established in claims for Greek benefits.

1. All Claims

The worker's coverage under the Greek system must be established for all Greek claims. (See GN 01737.212.)

2. Retirement Claims

The additional entitlement factors that must be established for Greek retirement claims are:

  1. a. 

    Age of worker

  2. b. 

    Marriage, if a wife's supplement is claimed

  3. c. 

    Age and relationship of child, if a child's supplement is claimed.

3. Survivors Claims

The additional entitlement factors that must be established for Greek survivors claims are:

  1. a. 

    Death of worker

  2. b. 

    Marriage, if a widow(er)'s benefit is claimed

  3. c. 

    Degree of disability if a widower's benefit is claimed

  4. d. 

    Age and relationship of child, if a child's benefit is claimed.

4. Disability Claims

The additional entitlement factors that must be established for Greek disability claims are:

  1. a. 

    Age of worker

  2. b. 

    Degree of disability (medical evidence)

  3. c. 

    Marriage, if a wife's supplement is claimed

  4. d. 

    Age and relationship of child, if a child's supplement is claimed.

E. Procedure — General

Take the following actions when developing evidence to support claims for Greek 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 unless the evidence is the Greek Insurance booklet. As explained in GN 01737.212, have the worker submit his or her original Greek insurance booklet.

CAUTION: Do not hold claims for Greek 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 Greek agency will contact him or her directly to obtain any evidence it needs.

2. Types of Evidence

If the applicant requests guidance on the type of evidence to submit, see:

  1. a. 

    Proof of Greek coverage in GN 01737.212

  2. b. 

    Proof of age in GN 00302.000

    NOTE: If the claimant was born in Greece, always request the Greek proof of age. See GN 00307.518.

  3. c. 

    Proof of death in GN 00304.000

  4. d. 

    Proof of marriage in GN 00305.000

  5. e. 

    Proof of parent/child relationship in GN 00306.000.

3. Document the File

Document the file to show when a factor of entitlement for a Greek benefit has already been verified for a U.S. claim.

a. Concurrent Title II/Greek Claim

Send a certified photocopy of the relevant evidence with the Greek 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 the Number Holder's (NH's) U.S. Coverage

  1. a. 

    Obtain proof of lag earnings through the quarter of filing or death in all claims for Greek benefits. (Lag earnings are always needed since Greece counts a worker's U.S. quarters of coverage in computing the amount of the Greek benefit.)

  2. b. 

    Obtain a record of the NH's U.S. coverage in all claims for Greek benefits. When the applicant is filing for both U.S. and Greek benefits, completion of the modernized claims system (MCS) screens will automatically generate a separate earnings record for the Greek claim. When a claimant files for Greek benefits only, which is a complex MCS exclusion, request an Informational/Certified earnings record (ICERS) per MSOM ICERS 001.004.

F. Procedure — disability claims

In addition to taking the actions in GN 01737.210E, take the following actions when developing medical evidence for Greek disability claims.

1. Greek Benefits Only

  1. a. 

    Accept any medical evidence the applicant wishes to submit when the claim is for Greek benefits only. Do not attempt to secure evidence for the applicant or offer advice as to what types of evidence are needed by Greece.

  2. b. 

    Send any medical evidence that is submitted along with the claims file to OIO at the address in GN 01702.310.

  3. c. 

    Transmit the file without medical evidence if it is not readily available and advise the applicant that the Greek agency will contact him or her directly, if necessary, to obtain needed evidence.

2. Greek Benefits and Concurrent Title II Claim

Follow the instructions in GN 01702.400 - GN 01702. 415 to process claims for Greek disability benefits and concurrent title II disability claims.

G. References

  • Requesting an Informational/Certified Earnings Record, MSOM 31-C

  • Certifying evidence for Totalization claims, GN 00301.105

  • Totalization requirements, MSOM MCS 009.011

  • Lag earnings, RS 01404.005

  • Completing the SSA-2490 on MCS, MSOM MCS 007.001


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201737210
GN 01737.210 - Developing Evidence in Claims for Greek Benefits - 08/29/2005
Batch run: 04/22/2014
Rev:08/29/2005