Effective Dates: 08/15/2011 - Present Previous | Next

TN 5 (04-97)

GN 01707.215 Application for Benefits Under the German Agreement

A. Policy

An applicant filing for benefits under the agreement with Germany must complete Form SSA-2490-BK (Application for Benefits Under A U.S. International Social Security Agreement). This is true whether the applicant is filing for benefits only from the U.S., only from Germany or from both countries.

The SSA-2490-BK is available through MCS only when the NH is filing an application for both U.S. (regular or Totalization) benefits and German life benefits. It is not available when the NH is filing for German benefits only or when an application for survivor benefits is being filed. In those cases, a paper SSA-2490-BK application form must be filed. (An SSA-2490-BK is not necessary in claims for U.S. auxiliary benefits in life cases since it would have been previously completed with the NH's claim.)

B. Procedure

Use the following information to determine which applications must be completed when taking claims for U.S. Totalization benefits and/or German benefits under the agreement with Germany.

1. U.S. Totalization benefits only

For U.S. Totalization benefits only:

  1. a. 

    For claims taken on MCS, in addition to completing the appropriate RSDI application screens, see MSOM MCS 009.011 for completing the TOTALIZATION (TOTL) screen on MCS and MSOM MCS 007.001 for completing the SSA-2490 on MCS.

  2. b. 

    For claims taken using the paper SSA-2490-BK application form, complete Part I only and the appropriate RSDI application(s).

2. German regular or Totalization benefits only

These claims are MCS exclusions. Complete Parts I and II of the paper SSA-2490-BK application form for German regular or Totalization benefits.

3. German benefits (regular or Totalization) and U.S. Totalization

For German benefits (regular or Totalization) and U.S. Totalization benefits:

  1. a. 

    For claims taken on MCS, in addition to completing the appropriate RSDI application screens, see MSOM MCS 009.011 for completing the TOTALIZATION (TOTL) screen on MCS and MSOM MCS 007.001 for completing the SSA-2490 on MCS.

  2. b. 

    For claims taken using the paper SSA-2490-BK application form, complete Parts I and II and the appropriate RSDI application(s).

C. References

  • •

    Completing the SSA-2490-BK on MCS, MSOM MCS 007.001

  • •

    Completing the paper Form SSA-2490-BK, GN 01702.110

  • •

    Forwarding foreign applications to OIO, GN 01702.310

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201707215
GN 01707.215 - Application for Benefits Under the German Agreement - 08/15/2011
Batch run: 03/07/2014
Rev:08/15/2011