[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 3913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-758]



[[Page 3913]]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Agreement on Social Security Between the United States and Japan; 
Entry Into Force

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commissioner of Social Security gives notice that an 
agreement coordinating the United States (U.S.) and Japanese social 
security programs entered into force on October 1, 2005. The agreement 
with Japan, which was signed on February 19, 2004, is similar to U.S. 
social security agreements already in force with 20 other countries--
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, 
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Korea (South), Luxembourg, the Netherlands, 
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. 
Agreements of this type are authorized by section 233 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 433).
    Like the other agreements, the U.S.-Japanese agreement eliminates 
dual social security coverage--the situation that exists when a worker 
from one country works in the other country and is covered under the 
social security systems of both countries for the same work. When dual 
coverage occurs, the worker or the worker's employer or both may be 
required to pay social security contributions to the two countries 
simultaneously. Under the U.S.-Japanese agreement, a worker who is sent 
by an employer in one country to work in the other country for 5 years 
or less remains covered only by the sending country. The agreement 
includes additional rules that eliminate dual U.S. and Japanese 
coverage in other work situations.
    The agreement also helps eliminate situations where workers suffer 
a loss of benefit rights because they have divided their careers 
between the two countries. Under the agreement, workers may qualify for 
partial U.S. benefits or partial Japanese benefits based on combined 
(totalized) work credits from both countries.
    Individuals who wish to obtain copies of the agreement or want more 
information about its provisions may write to the Social Security 
Administration, Office of International Programs, Post Office Box 
17741, Baltimore, MD 21235-7741 or visit the Social Security Web site 
at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/international.

    Dated: January 13, 2006.
Jo Anne B. Barnhart,
Commissioner of Social Security.
 [FR Doc. E6-758 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
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