Generally, where an RSDI beneficiary files for totalization benefits from the United States, the claim is disallowed unless the claim was filed under the Italian agreement (see B below). This is because all other agreements provide that the United States will not consider foreign work if the worker is insured based on U.S. work alone with rare exceptions.

If an RSDI beneficiary files for totalization benefits from the United States under the Italian agreement, the claim cannot be immediately disallowed. A record of the claimant's Italian earnings must be obtained from I.N.P.S. and a pro-rata PIA computed based on combined U.S./Italian earnings. The claimant /beneficiary is then notified that SSA will pay the higher of the two monthly benefit amounts unless the beneficiary wishes to receive the lesser amount, in which case, he or she must inform DIO of this decision within 60 days.