U.S. and Chile: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Dec 1, 2001

For Chile, the agreement covers contributions and benefits for old-age, disability and survivors insurance under both the pre-1981 (old) and post-1981 (new) systems, plus contributions for Chile's national health insurance and workers' compensation programs. Workers exempted from Chilean coverage by the agreement pay no Chilean social security taxes for those other programs and generally cannot receive benefits from them.

How the U.S. counts Chile credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Chile 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).

Chile's side

Chile has an old pension system (based on average earnings and length of coverage) and a new system (individual investment accounts). Under the old system, Chile can count credits from both countries, when necessary, to establish a right to old-age, disability and survivors benefits. Under the new system, Chile can count credits from both countries, when necessary, to meet the coverage requirement for the guaranteed minimum benefit. Chile may also count the amount of a worker's U.S. benefit when deciding eligibility for an early old-age pension under the new system.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet table shows that under all Chilean programs, men must be age 65 and women age 60 for retirement benefits. The new system has no minimum contribution period but guarantees a minimum benefit with 20 years of contributions. The old system has its own contribution requirements for salaried employees, wage earners and public employees, which the pamphlet lists.
• Each country pays its own benefit. The U.S. pays monthly. Under the old Chilean system the Instituto de Normalizacion Previsional pays in the middle of the month; under the new system a pension fund administrator pays near the end of the month.
• SSA's pamphlet says to 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 Chile: contact any Chilean social security office, or the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica (per SSA's pamphlet).

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.