Under the benefit provisions of the original agreement, U.K. disability benefits were paid to persons in the U.S., provided the worker met all of the following conditions:

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  not entitled to regular (non-Totalization) disability benefits from the United States;

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  earned four U.S. quarters of coverage (QCs) during the two-year period preceding disability onset and had earned at least one QC since last arriving in the U.S.;

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  met the minimum coverage requirement for U.K. disability benefits at the time of departure from the U.K.;

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  had not been absent from the U.K. for more than five years since last completing a period of coverage under U.K. law, and

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  had been incapable of work for at least 52 weeks on account of sickness or disablement according to the relevant provisions of U.K. law.

Under the more liberal provisions of the Supplementary Agreement, U.K. disability benefits may be paid to a person in the U.S. if he or she:

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  paid contributions equivalent to about one year of coverage under U.K. law, and

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  paid or been credited with U.K. contributions equivalent to a year of coverage in each of the last two years before disability onset, or has two quarters of U.S. coverage in each of those years.

A person who meets these requirements and is not receiving a U.S. disability benefit will receive the full U.K. benefit. If the person is receiving a U.S. disability benefit (either a regular or Totalization benefit), only a partial U.K. benefit will be paid in proportion to the duration of the person's U.K. coverage.

Under the original agreement, a person who had worked in both the U.S. and the U.K. and who satisfied the normal eligibility requirements for U.K. disability benefits could receive those benefits, provided the person:

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  not entitled to regular (non-Totalization) disability benefits from the U.S., or

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  if entitled to regular U.S. disability benefits, resided in the U.K. for at least five years preceding disability onset.

Under the Supplementary Agreement, a person who meets the normal eligibility requirements for U.K. disability benefits and who receives regular U.S. disability benefits will be able to qualify for partial U.K. disability benefits without regard to the duration of their U.K. residence.