Prior to July 1968, Treasury regulations prohibited the payment of benefits to Social
Security beneficiaries in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. When these restrictions were
lifted, SSA decided not to pay benefits until it was assured of free access to
beneficiaries and records in those areas.
When the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania was recognized in September
1991, SSA (through DOS) opened discussions with the governments of those countries
to determine if payments could be made to beneficiaries there.
The appropriate officials of those governments have now given SSA assurance of free
access to beneficiaries and records in those countries.