U.S. and Finland: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Nov 1, 1992

For Finland, the agreement covers the National Pension Scheme and the general Survivors' Pension Scheme, the Employment Pension Scheme (including schemes for the self-employed, state, church and municipal employees, and seamen), employer contributions, and where applicable sickness and maternity insurance and child allowances. Workers exempted from Finnish coverage pay no Finnish taxes for programs such as sickness, maternity and child allowances and generally cannot receive benefits from them.

How the U.S. counts Finland credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Finland 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).

Finland's side

Finland has two programs. The National Pension depends on residence in Finland. Under the agreement, U.S. and Finnish nationals who live in the United States can qualify for National Pension retirement and survivors benefits if they have resided in Finland for five continuous years at any time after age 16 (the five years need not be immediately before entitlement). The Earnings-Related Pension has no waiting periods or monetary limits, so U.S. credits are not counted for it.

Ages, payments and forms

• Finland's National Pension retirement age is 65 under SSA's pamphlet, but the pamphlet notes Finland's reform gradually raising the retirement age for people born between 1955 and 1964, with later birth years tied to life expectancy. Check with Finnish authorities for the age on the date you apply.
• Finland pays once a month. The U.S. pays monthly. Each country pays its own benefit.
• SSA's pamphlet lists Finnish forms SF/USA 3C (earnings-related pensions), FIN/USA 3A (national pension, old-age) and FIN/USA 3B (national pension, survivors), which can be filed with SSA in the U.S. or with the Finnish Centre for Pensions (Elaketurvakeskus, ETK). Form SSA-2490-BK is the application for U.S. benefits under an agreement.

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 Finland: contact Kela customer service, any Finnish earnings-related pension provider or the Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK), or the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway (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.