TN 2 (03-04)
GN 01702.005 Field Office Role in Processing Claims Filed Under a Totalization Agreement – General
The role of the field office is to:
-
•
Provide limited general information about the eligibility requirements under the system
of an agreement country. (Refer to the subchapter for the specific agreement for a
short summary of eligibility requirements.)
-
•
Assist applicants in filing applications to claim benefits from either the United
States or an agreement country.
-
•
Secure evidence (other than a foreign coverage record) required to adjudicate a claim
for U.S. Totalization benefits.
-
•
Make reasonable efforts to secure information/evidence required by an agreement country
to adjudicate a claim for benefits from that country.
-
•
Perform final adjudication of claims for U.S. benefits where the number holder (NH)
is insured based on U.S. coverage alone or has less than 6 quarters of coverage (QCs).
-
•
Process an initial denial in claims for U.S. benefits where the NH has at least 6
QCs but is not insured based on U.S. QCs alone and the applicant meets all other factors
of entitlement.