Section 202(t)(1) of the Social Security Act generally provides that we do not pay benefits to a beneficiary who:

• •

  is not a U.S. citizen or national; and

• •

  has been outside the United States for more than six consecutive calendar months.

Some beneficiaries may qualify for exceptions to the alien nonpayment provision.

In addition, section 202(t)(11) requires that certain dependents and survivors must also meet a 5-year U.S. residency requirement.

Citizens of Uruguay were exempt from the alien nonpayment provision prior to the effective date of the U.S. - Uruguayan agreement as described in RS 02610.015. However, Uruguayan citizen dependent and survivor beneficiaries also had to meet a 5-year U.S. residency requirement to qualify for the alien nonpayment exemption. Beginning with the effective date of the U.S. - Uruguayan agreement, dependent and survivor beneficiaries who are residents of Uruguay do not have to meet the additional 5-year residency requirement because this agreement does not include a limitation to this exemption.

If a claimant who does not meet another exception to the Alien Nonpayment Provision as described in RS 02610.010 alleges citizenship of Uruguay, then develop citizenship status to verify that the exception provided by Uruguayan citizenship applies.

For more information about exceptions to the additional U.S. residency requirements for alien dependents and survivors under the U.S. - Uruguayan agreement, see GN 01760.145.

RS 02610.010 Exceptions to Alien Nonpayment

RS 02610.015 Status of Countries for Applying Exceptions Based on Citizenship