[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 148 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41314-41315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20554]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Finding Regarding the Social Insurance System of the Slovak 
Republic

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Finding Regarding the Social Insurance System of the 
Slovak Republic.

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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) 
through 402(t)(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 
Programs. Under that authority, the Associate Commissioner for 
International Programs has approved a finding that the Slovak Republic, 
as of January 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 the 
Slovak Republic and who qualify for the relevant benefits to receive 
those benefits, or their actuarial equivalent, while outside of the 
Slovak Republic regardless of the duration of the absence of these 
individuals from the Slovak Republic.
    Accordingly, it is hereby determined and found that the Slovak 
Republic has in effect, as of January 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 the Slovak Republic. Before January 1993, the United 
States did not recognize the Slovak Republic as an independent nation. 
Czechoslovakia divided into two separate states, the Czech Republic and 
the Slovak Republic, on January 1, 1993. At that time, the Slovak 
Republic adopted the Czechoslovak basic law on social insurance which 
continues to govern the country's social insurance system.
    Although the Slovak Republic added several amendments to the old 
law, these provisions did not affect the determination under section 
202(t)(2) of the Social Security Act. In addition, the Slovak Republic 
considers itself bound by the Diplomatic Notes on reciprocity of 
payments which were exchanged between the United States and 
Czechoslovakia in 1968. Since all such agreements are binding on the 
Slovak Republic by right of succession, the

[[Page 41315]]

1969 addendum to the 1968 Diplomatic Notes is also being honored.

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: July 24, 1998.
James A. Kissko,
Associate Commissioner for International Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-20554 Filed 7-31-98; 8:45 am]
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