Absent information to the contrary, SSA assumes that an individual born in Russia
(formerly, the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic) is a Russian citizen.
Proof of current citizenship must be secured for any individual who:
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•
moved to the Soviet Union before January 1992, and
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•
claims to be a United States (U.S.) citizen (or national), or a citizen of a country
other than Russia, and would meet an exception to the alien nonpayment provisions
of the law based on that citizenship.
If the beneficiary is deceased and citizenship is material to the payment of the lump
sum death benefit or the underpayment, the evidence must show that the deceased beneficiary
retained that citizenship until their death, or if it was lost, when it was lost.