Effective Dates: 01/12/2023 - Present Previous | Next

TN 4 (01-23)

GN 01719.210 Developing Evidence and Establishing Entitlement Factors in Claims for United Kingdom (U.K.) Benefits

A. Evidence Requirements

When a person files for United States (U.S.) Totalization benefits under the agreement with the U.K., the applicant must submit the same evidence that would be necessary to establish a claim for regular retirement, survivors, or disability insurance (non-Totalization) benefits. The applicant must submit the evidence noted in GN 01702.200-GN 01702.230 when claiming Totalization benefits from the United States.

B. SSA accepts application for benefits

Under the agreement with the U.K., the Social Security Administration (SSA) will accept applications for both regular and Totalization benefits on behalf of the U.K. SSA also provides limited assistance in obtaining evidence that U.K needs to support the claim.

C. Using evidence previously submitted in a claim for U.S. benefits

The U.K. may use evidence that SSA uses to establish a factor of entitlement for U.S. Social Security benefits to establish the same factor for U.K. benefits. Consequently, it is unnecessary for the applicant to submit additional evidence to document a factor of entitlement for U.K. benefits when that factor has already been verified for SSA purposes.

D. Entitlement factors for U.K. retirement, survivors, and disability benefits

In addition to insured status, evidence of the following it required to support the application for U.K. benefits.

1. Required evidence when filing an application for retirement benefits

The entitlement factors which must be established for U.K. retirement claims are:

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    age of worker;

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    age of wife and marriage, if wife's benefit or supplement claimed;

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    age of divorced spouse and divorce, if divorced spouse's benefit claimed; and

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    age and relationship of child, if child's supplement claimed.

2. Required evidence when filing an application for survivors benefits

The entitlement factors which must be established for U.K. survivors claims are:

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    death of worker

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    age of claimant

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    marriage, if widow's/widower's benefits claimed; and

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    age and relationship of child, if child's supplement claimed.

3. Required evidence when filing an application for disability benefits

The entitlement factors which must be established for U.K. disability claims are:

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    age of worker;

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    degree of disability (medical evidence);

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    marriage, if wife's supplement claimed;

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    divorce, if divorced wife's benefit claimed; and

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    age and relationship of child, if child's supplement claimed.

E. Accepting and developing evidence for U.K. benefits

Take the following actions when developing evidence to support claims for U.K. benefits.

1. Researching the types of evidence

 

2. Accepting Evidence

The applicant must submit the evidence noted in GN 01702.200 - GN 01702.230 whenever Totalization benefits are claimed from the U.K.

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    SSA accepts any medical evidence the applicant wishes to submit.

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    If the applicant does not want to release an original document, photocopy the evidence and certify the copy.

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    Do not attempt to secure evidence for the applicant or offer advice as to what types of evidence the U.K. may need.

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    Send all submitted medical evidence and the claims file to Office of Earnings and International Operations (OEIO), Division of International Operations (DIO) at the following address:

    Social Security Administration
    OEIO-DIO
    P.O. Box 17769
    Baltimore, MD 21235-7769
    USA

    If a courier service is used, mail to:

    Social Security Administration
    Division of International Operations
    6100 Wabash Avenue
    Baltimore, MD 21215

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    Complete the Modernized Development Worksheet (MDW) screen to show the date the FO sent the U.K. claim to DIO. Input "Totalization" as the ISSUE.

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    Inform the applicant that the responsible U.K. agency will contact him or her directly to obtain any additional documents or evidence needed to make a determination.

    CAUTION: Do not hold claims for U.K. benefits for prolonged periods pending receipt of evidence. If an applicant is unable to obtain needed evidence within a reasonable time, transmit the claim to the DIO without the evidence. Advise the applicant that the responsible U.K. agency will contact him or her directly to obtain any needed evidence.

    NOTE: Applicants filing for Totalization benefits from one of the special occupational systems in U.K. will need to establish the type of work the number holder (NH) performed in the United States. If the applicant asks for guidance, recommend that he or she obtain a statement from the NH's employer showing the type of occupation and the dates of employment in that occupation.

 

3. Documenting the File

Document the file to show when a factor of entitlement for a U.K. benefit has already been verified for a U.S. claim.

a. Concurrent Title II claims

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    Send relevant evidence with the U.K. claim to the Program Service Center (PSC) of jurisdiction; and

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    Electronically send a certified photocopy of the relevant evidence with the U.K. claim to DIO.

b. Prior Title II claims

Attach a Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) printout with the U.K claim sent to DIO to reflect which factors, other than disability, have been verified in a prior file.

4. Obtaining the Number Holder's (NH) U.S. earnings record

Obtain the NH's U.S. earnings record in all claims for U.K. benefits when the applicant is filing for both U.S. and U.K benefits. You can complete the Modernized Claims System (MCS) screens. The MCS screens will automatically generate a separate earnings record for the U.K. claim.

When a claimant files for U.K. benefits only, which is a MCS exclusion, request an Information/Certified Earnings Record (ICERS) per MS 02101.004.

Obtain proof of lag earnings (unposted paid earnings in the current or preceding year through the quarter of attainment of age 65 if the NH is a man or the quarter of attainment of age 60 if the NH is a woman). *For proof of lag earnings, see RS 01404.005 and RS 01404.018. For proof of lag self-employment earnings, see RS 01804.100

F. Developing medical evidence for disability claims

In addition to taking the actions in GN 01719.210E., take the following actions when developing medical evidence for U.K. disability claims.

1. U.K. Benefits Only

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    Accept any medical evidence the applicant wishes to submit. Do not attempt to secure evidence for the claimant or offer advice as to what types of evidence are needed by the United Kingdom.

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    Send all medical evidence along with the claims file to DIO at the following address:

    Social Security Administration
    OEIO - DIO
    P.O Box 17769
    Baltimore, Maryland 21235-7769
    USA

    See GN 01702.310 for more information on routing claims for U.S. Totalization benefits.

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    Complete the Modernized Development Worksheet (MDW) screen to show the date the field office sent the U.K. claim to DIO. Show "Totalization" as the ISSUE.

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    Transmit the file without medical evidence if it is not readily available; and

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    Advise the claimant that the U.K. agency will contact him or her, if necessary, to obtain required evidence.

2. U.K. Benefits and Concurrent Title II Claim

Follow the instructions in GN 01702.400 - GN 01702.415 to process claims for U.K. disability benefits and concurrent Title II disability claims.

G. References

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    GN 00301.105, Certification of Evidence for Totalization Claims

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    GN 00302.000, Proof of Age

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    GN 00304.000, Proof of Death

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    GN 00305.000, Proof of Marital Relationship

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    GN 00306.000, Child Relationship and Dependency

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    GN 01702.110, Application for Benefits Under a U.S. International Social Security (Totalization) Agreement (Form SSA-2490-BK)

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    GN 01702.310 - GN 01702.525, Actions necessary when applicant indicates work in U.K. on U.S. application

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    GN 01702.400, Developing Medical Evidence in Claims for U.S. Totalization Disability Benefits

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    GN 01702.415, Development of Medical Evidence and Routing of Claims for Foreign Disability Benefits

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    GN 01719.215, Application for Benefits Under the U.K. Agreement

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    MS 02101.004, Informational/Certified Earnings Records – Totalization (ICIC)

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    MS 03507.001, Introduction to SSA-2490 - Overview

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    MS 03509.011, Totalization (TOTL)

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    RS 00205.350, Determining Full-Time Attendance (FTA)

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    RS 01301.000, Living With, Contributions and One-Half Support

 

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201719210
GN 01719.210 - Developing Evidence and Establishing Entitlement Factors in Claims for United Kingdom (U.K.) Benefits - 01/12/2023
Batch run: 12/20/2024
Rev:01/12/2023