Section 202(t)(1) of the Social Security Act provides that certain non-U.S. citizen
beneficiaries will have their benefits suspended once they have been outside the United
States for more than 6 months.
As explained in GN 01701.150A.1., certain non-U.S. citizen beneficiaries who would otherwise be subject to suspension
under section 202(t)(1) are exempt from suspension if they reside in a country with
which the United States has a Totalization agreement. This exemption applies to citizens
or residents of Japan who receive regular retirement, survivors or disability insurance
benefits as well as those who receive Totalization benefits.
NOTE: See GN 01745.145 for additional U.S. residency requirements for alien dependents and survivors.