The Totalization Agreement with Austria became effective on November 1, 1991. A Supplemental Agreement, effective January 1, 1997, amended the Agreement.

The primary purpose of the Supplemental Agreement was to authorize Austria to use a different method of computing benefit amounts for people who earned periods of coverage under both the U.S. and Austrian social security systems. Under the Supplemental Agreement, Austria pays benefits that are computed in accordance with Austrian domestic law, rather than the pro rata computation method. In addition, the Supplemental Agreement addresses changes to U.S. and Austrian laws.

If both the U.S. and Austrian social security systems cover a worker's employment or self-employment, the Agreement provides that beginning November 1, 1991, only one country's system will cover the worker's employment or self-employment. The Agreement does not affect a worker's coverage prior to that date. If a worker had dually-covered earnings before November 1, 1991, those earlier earnings remain subject to social security taxation in both countries.