Section 202(t)(11) states that no benefit may be paid to a non-U.S. citizen or national
for any month after the 6th consecutive calendar month outside the U.S. If first eligible for benefits after
December 1984, the beneficiary must have resided in the U.S. for at least 5 years.
During this 5-year residence the beneficiary must have been in a family relationship
with the number holder (NH) in order to receive U.S. benefits.
As explained in GN 01701.150A.2., citizens or residents of a country the U.S. has a Totalization agreement with are
exempt from these requirements unless an agreement includes a limitation on the exemption.
The U.S.-Czech agreement does not contain a limitation.
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Czech citizens, regardless of where they reside, are exempt from these requirements.
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Residents of the Czech Republic, regardless of their citizenship, are exempt from
these requirements.