[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6190-6191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03271]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2019-0005]


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

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are giving notice that an agreement coordinating the United 
States (U.S.) and Icelandic social security programs will go into force 
effective on March 1, 2019. The

[[Page 6191]]

Agreement with Iceland, which was signed on September 27, 2016, is 
similar to U.S. social security agreements already in force with 29 
other countries--Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, 
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, 
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Luxembourg, the Netherlands, 
Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, 
Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Section 233 of the Social 
Security Act authorizes agreements of this type.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Like the other agreements, the U.S.-
Icelandic Agreement eliminates dual social security coverage. This 
situation exists when a worker from one country works in the other 
country and has coverage under the social security systems of both 
countries for the same work. Without such agreements in force, when 
dual coverage occurs, the worker, the worker's employer, or both may be 
required to pay social security contributions to the two countries 
simultaneously. Under the U.S.-Icelandic Agreement, a worker who is 
sent by an employer in one country to work in the other country for 5 
or fewer years remains covered only by the sending country. The 
Agreement includes additional rules that eliminate dual U.S. and 
Icelandic 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 Icelandic benefits based on combined 
(totalized) work credits from both countries.
    Persons who wish to receive copies of the Agreement or who want 
more information about its provisions may write to the Social Security 
Administration, Office of Data Exchange, Policy Publications, and 
International Negotiations, 4700 Annex Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235, or visit the Social Security website at 
www.socialsecurity.gov/international. The full text of the Agreement 
and its accompanying Administrative Arrangement are available at 
https://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement_Texts/iceland.html.

Nancy A. Berryhill,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. 2019-03271 Filed 2-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P