Section 202(t)(1) of the Social Security Act (Act), the alien nonpayment provision,
generally provides that we do not pay benefits to a beneficiary who:
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is not a U.S. citizen or national; and
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has been outside the United States (U.S.) for more than 6 consecutive calendar months.
This is the alien nonpayment provision. Some beneficiaries may qualify for exceptions
to the alien nonpayment provision. For example, citizens or residents of the Slovak
Republic who received regular U.S. retirement, survivors, or disability insurance
benefits or U.S. Totalization benefits were exempt from the alien nonpayment provision
prior to the effective date of the U.S.-Slovak Totalization agreement. For Status
of Countries Applying Exceptions Based on Citizenship see RS 02610.015.