Since a Dutch retirement benefit is payable to people with as little as 1 year of
Dutch coverage, the agreement does not require the Netherlands to count U.S. coverage
in determining entitlement to retirement benefits.
However, the agreement does permit certain people to qualify for a higher benefit
amount based on the noncontributory coverage credits described in GN 01725.020C. Under the agreement these noncontributory credits are granted to persons who:
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have credit for a period of Dutch coverage after 1956,
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are Dutch or U.S. nationals, refugees, or stateless persons,
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reside in the United States or the Netherlands, and
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resided in the United States or the Netherlands for at least 6 years after attaining
age 59.
Persons who meet these conditions may have their Dutch benefits computed or recomputed
using the noncontributory credits.