[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 8514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4160]



[[Page 8514]]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Finding Regarding the Social Insurance System of Albania

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of finding regarding the Social Insurance System of 
Albania.

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Finding

    Section 202(t)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(t)(1)) 
prohibits payment of monthly benefits to any individual who is not a 
United States citizen or national for any month after he or she has 
been outside the United States for 6 consecutive months, and prior to 
the first month thereafter for all of which, the individual has been in 
the United States. This prohibition does not apply to such an 
individual where one of the exceptions described in sections 202(t)(2) 
through 202(t)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(t)(2)-(5)) 
affects his or her case.
    Section 202(t)(2) of the Social Security Act provides that, subject 
to certain residency requirements of section 202(t)(11), the 
prohibition against payment shall not apply to any individual who is a 
citizen of a country which the Commissioner of Social Security finds 
has in effect a social insurance system which is of general application 
in such country and which:
    (a) Pays periodic benefits, or the actuarial equivalent thereof, on 
account of old age, retirement, or death; and
    (b) Permits individuals who are United States citizens but not 
citizens of that country and who qualify for such benefits to receive 
those benefits, or the actuarial equivalent thereof, while outside the 
foreign country regardless of the duration of the absence.
    The Commissioner of Social Security has delegated the authority to 
make such a finding to the Associate Commissioner for International 
Policy. Under that authority, the Associate Commissioner for 
International Policy has approved a finding that Albania, as of October 
1, 1993, has a social insurance system of general application which:
    (a) Pays periodic benefits, or the actuarial equivalent thereof, on 
account of old age, retirement, or death; and
    (b) Permits United States citizens who are not citizens of Albania 
and who qualify for the relevant benefits to receive those benefits, or 
their actuarial equivalent, while outside of Albania, regardless of the 
duration of the absence of these individuals from Albania.
    Accordingly, it is hereby determined and found that Albania has in 
effect, as of October 1, 1993, a social insurance system which meets 
the requirements of section 202(t)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402(t)(2)).
    This is our first finding under section 202(t) of the Social 
Security Act for Albania. For the period September 7, 1948 through 
September 29, 1992, U.S. Treasury Department regulations prohibited 
sending U.S. Government checks (including U.S. Social Security checks) 
to, or on behalf of, individuals in Albania. These restrictions were 
lifted on September 30, 1992.
    However, prior to October 1, 1993, the date that the People's 
Assembly Law on Social Insurance in the Albanian Republic, Act No. 
7703, entered into force, there was no provision for the payment of 
benefits to U.S. citizens residing outside Albania as required under 
section 202(t)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act. Consequently, payment 
of benefits to Albanian citizens under the social insurance exception 
was not possible until the new law went into effect.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Powers, Room 1104, West High 
Rise Building, P.O. Box 17741, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 
21235, (410) 965-3568.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: Program Nos. 96.001 Social 
Security--Disability Insurance; 96.002 Social Security--Retirement 
Insurance; 96.004 Social Security--Survivors Insurance)

    Dated: February 5, 1998
James A. Kissko,
Associate Commissioner for International Policy.
[FR Doc. 98-4160 Filed 2-18-98; 8:45 am]
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