U.S. and Czech Republic: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Jan 1, 2009

For the Czech Republic, the agreement covers old-age, disability and survivors benefits and taxes for those programs plus sickness and unemployment insurance. Workers exempted from Czech coverage by the agreement pay no Czech social security taxes for other programs such as sickness and unemployment insurance and generally cannot receive benefits from them.

How the U.S. counts Czech Republic credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Czech Republic 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).

The Czech Republic's side

To have your United States and Czech credits counted together for a Czech benefit, you must have at least one year of coverage credited under the Czech system.

Ages, payments and forms

• The Czech system measures credits in days. SSA's pamphlet shows that Czech retirement benefits require at least 25 years of coverage (age 65 for men and women with 15 years of coverage), and notes that the Czech retirement age has been rising. SSA says the retirement age after 2012 is 63 for men and 59 to 62 for women depending on the number of children raised.
• The Czech Republic pays four times a year (March, June, September and December), covering the previous three months. The U.S. pays monthly. Each country pays its own benefit.
• SSA's pamphlet says you can apply for Czech benefits at any U.S. Social Security office by completing Form CZ/USA 202, or mail the completed form 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 the Czech Republic: contact any Czech social security office, or the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland (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.