U.S. and Austria: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Nov 1, 1991

For Austria, the agreement covers pension insurance, except the special insurance for notaries, plus sickness insurance and accident insurance. Workers and employers exempted from Austrian coverage by the agreement pay no Austrian social security taxes for other programs such as sickness and accident insurance, and generally cannot receive benefits from them.

How the U.S. counts Austria credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Austria credits counted for a U.S. benefit you must have at least 6 U.S. credits (generally one and one-half years of work).
• If you already have enough U.S. credits for a benefit, the U.S. cannot count the foreign credits.
• If you are short, you may qualify for a partial U.S. benefit based on both countries' credits.
• In 2026, one U.S. credit takes $1,890 of covered earnings, up to 4 credits a year (SSA's pamphlet prints an older 2022 amount).

Austria's side

To have your United States and Austrian credits counted together for an Austrian benefit, you must have at least 12 months of coverage credited under the Austrian system.

Ages, payments and forms

• Austria measures credits in months. SSA's pamphlet table shows an Austrian retirement benefit payable at age 65 for men (the table also lists a figure for women of age 60.5), with at least 15 years of contributions or other combinations listed in the pamphlet. Women's retirement age is rising gradually from 60 to 65 through 2033 (starting January 2024). SSA says to check Austria's Main Association of Social Insurance Agencies for the age on the date you apply.
• Austria generally pays every three months. The U.S. pays monthly. Each country pays its own benefit.
• SSA's pamphlet says you may complete form SSA-2490-BK (Application for Benefits Under a U.S. International Social Security Agreement) and mail it to your local Social Security office.

Where to start

• You can apply in one country and ask that it count as a claim in the other. Each country processes the claim under its own laws, counts credits from the other country when appropriate, and tells you its decision.
• In the United States: visit or write any U.S. Social Security office, or call 1-800-772-1213 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m., business days; TTY 1-800-325-0778).
• If you live in Austria: visit or write any Austrian social security office, or contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany (Giessener Strasse 30, 60435 Frankfurt).

What this page cannot tell you

• Whether your own record will qualify. Only SSA and the other country can decide that.
• Current ages and amounts. SSA's pamphlets show a 2022 credit amount and some older age tables, so confirm numbers with SSA or the other country.
• Anything not stated on SSA's page for this country.