Effective July 1, 1968, no monthly benefits accrue to a beneficiary who is not a citizen
or national of the United States for any month in which he or she resides in a country
to which payment is withheld because of Treasury regulations. See RS 02650.001C for a list of these restricted countries.
You must refer all claims for benefits that accrued prior to July 1, 1968 to the Office of International Programs (OIP).
Residence (not presence) in a restricted country is the cause for nonpayment. A beneficiary
is a resident if he or she is present in the restricted country for a significant
period of time and makes, or intends to make, his or her home there.
If U.S. citizenship is the basis for claiming accrued benefits, no payment may be
made before verifying U.S. citizenship (as explained in RS 02650.005A.3.).