[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 212 (Friday, November 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 62292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21585]



[[Page 62292]]

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2007-0080]


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

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commissioner of Social Security gives notice that on 
November 1, 2007, a supplementary agreement will enter into force which 
amends the Social Security agreement between the United States (U.S.) 
and Sweden that has been in effect since January 1, 1987. The 
supplementary agreement, which was signed on June 24, 2004, was 
concluded pursuant to section 233 of the Social Security Act.
    When the original agreement was concluded, Sweden had a two-tier 
Social Security system that consisted of an earnings-related, defined-
benefit program and a residence-based, flat-rate benefit program. 
Recent Swedish legislation restructured the system. People born after 
1953 are now covered by a program consisting of three components. The 
new Swedish system includes an earnings-related, defined-contribution 
benefit program administered by the government, a program of individual 
investment accounts, and a guaranteed minimum pension payable if 
income-based pensions and certain other income fall below specified 
levels.
    The primary purpose of the supplementary agreement is to conform 
the Swedish benefit provisions of the original agreement to Sweden's 
new Social Security system. The supplementary agreement also changes 
the provision that authorizes SSA to take into account Swedish periods 
of coverage in determining eligibility for U.S. Totalization benefits 
so that it refers to periods under the new Swedish pension program 
rather than the old program. The new Swedish Social Security law allows 
people to qualify for most benefits with very little coverage credit. 
It is not expected, therefore, that many people will need to have their 
U.S. and Swedish coverage credits totalized to become eligible for most 
Swedish benefits.
    The supplementary agreement provides that U.S. Social Security 
benefits will not be counted in applying pension offsets that normally 
reduce the amount of Swedish disability benefits. Thus, the 
supplementary agreement will provide U.S. workers enhanced disability 
benefit protection under the Swedish system at little, if any, 
additional cost to the U.S. Social Security system.
    In addition to the changes in the U.S. and Swedish benefit 
provisions, the supplementary agreement updates several other 
provisions to take account of amendments to both U.S. and Swedish laws 
and to conform the wording of the agreement to the more recent 
Totalization agreements concluded by the United States. Other changes 
in the agreement are merely clarifications to reflect the manner in 
which the agreement is currently applied.
    Individuals who wish to obtain copies of the supplementary 
agreement or want general information about its provisions may visit 
the Social Security Administration's Web site at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/international or may write to the Social 
Security Administration, Office of International Programs, Post Office 
Box 17741, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

    Dated: October 29, 2007.
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. E7-21585 Filed 11-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P