[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13243-13244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6400]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Finding Regarding the Social Insurance System of Hungary

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

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

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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 Hungary, as of 
January 1, 1996, 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 Hungary 
and who qualify for the relevant benefits to receive those benefits, or 
their actuarial

[[Page 13244]]

equivalent, while outside of Hungary, regardless of the duration of the 
absence of these individuals from Hungary.
    Accordingly, it is hereby determined and found Hungary has in 
effect, as of January 1, 1996, 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)).
    On July 1, 1968, it was determined that the Hungarian system did 
not meet part B of section 202(t)(2) because its social insurance law 
did not permit payment of benefits to those who resided outside 
Hungary. Although a new law was passed in 1990 that allowed benefits to 
be paid abroad, the Hungarian Forint was not convertible at that time, 
thereby constituting a currency restriction for section 202(t)(2) 
purposes. Effective January 1, 1996, the Forint became fully 
convertible, and payments could be made to qualified United States 
citizens residing outside Hungary as required by section 202(t)(2)(B) 
of the Social Security Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Powers, Room 1104, West High 
Rise Building, PO 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: March 9, 1999.
Barry L. Powell,
Acting Associate Commissioner for International Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-6400 Filed 3-16-99; 8:45 am]
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