Additional entitlement factors for Slovak retirement claims are:

• •

  marital status;

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  family composition;

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  dates of birth of all family members; and

• •

  disability status of family members.

Additional entitlement factors for Slovak survivors claims are:

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  date and proof of death of the worker;

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  date of marriage if surviving spouse's benefit claimed;

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  the survivor's disability status if surviving spouse's benefit claimed;

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  age and relationship of child if child's benefit claimed;

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  funeral expenses if funeral grant is claimed; and

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  proof of support in claims for benefits to the worker's parent, grandparent, or the unwed mother of the worker's biological children.

The only additional entitlement factor for Slovak disability claims is the degree of the worker’s disability (medical evidence).

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

• •

  For Proof of Age, see GN 00302.000;

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  For Proof of Death, see GN 00304.000;

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  For Proof of Marital Relationship, see GN 00305.000;

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  For proof of Parent/Child Relationship, see Child Relationship and Dependency in GN 00306.000; and

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  For Proof of Support, see Living With, Contributions and One-Half Support in RS 01301.000.

Take the following actions to accept evidence for Slovak benefits:

• •

  Accept any evidence the applicant submits.

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  If the applicant does not want to release an original document, photocopy the evidence and certify the copy per GN 00301.105;

• •

  Do not hold claims for Slovak benefits for prolonged periods pending receipt of evidence.

• •

  If an applicant is unable to obtain the necessary evidence within a reasonable time, transmit the claim without the evidence to the Office of International Operations (OIO) using the following address:

  Social Security Administration
  
  OIO - Totalization
  
  P.O. Box 17769
  
  Baltimore, Maryland 21235-7769

Inform the applicant that the responsible Slovak agency will contact the applicant directly to obtain any necessary evidence to make a determination for Slovak benefits.

Take the following actions to document the Slovak benefit claim:

• •

  Document the Slovak benefit claim file to indicate any factor of entitlement previously verified for the U.S. claim.

• •

  Electronically send a certified photocopy of the relevant evidence with the Slovak claim to OIO if sending the concurrent Title II claim to a Program Service Center (PSC) other than OIO.

Obtain the NH’s U.S. earnings record in all claims for Slovak benefits:

• •

  When the applicant is filing for both U.S. and Slovak benefits, complete the Modernized Claims System (MCS) screens. The MCS screens will automatically generate a separate earnings record for the Slovak claim.

• •

  When the applicant files for Slovak benefits only, (a complex MCS exclusion), request an Informational/Certified Earnings Record (ICERS) per MSOM ICERS 001.004.

• •

  Obtain proof of lag earnings (unposted paid earnings in the current and preceding year) if the earnings record alleges U.S. covered work in the lag period and the applicant is filing for any Slovak benefit. For proof of lag wages, see RS 01404.005 through RS 01404.018. For proof of lag self-employment income, see RS 01804.100.

To process claims for Slovak benefits only take the following actions:

• •

  Accept any medical evidence the applicant submits when the claim is for Slovak benefits only. Do not attempt to secure evidence for the applicant or offer advice as to what types of evidence the Slovak agency may need.

• •

  Send any medical evidence submitted and the claims file to OIO at the following address:

  Social Security Administration
  
  OIO-Totalization
  
  P.O. Box 17769
  
  Baltimore, Maryland 21235-7769
• •

  Transmit the file without medical evidence if it is not readily available and advise the applicant that the Slovak agency will contact the applicant directly to obtain any evidence it may need.

To process claims for Slovak disability benefits and concurrent title II disability claims follow the instructions in GN 01702.400 through GN 01702.415.