U.S. and Iceland: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Mar 1, 2019

For Iceland, the agreement covers taxes for public pensions, unemployment and health insurance and old-age retirement, survivors and disability benefits. It applies to Iceland's first-pillar residence-based benefit system and the second-pillar mandatory occupational pension system. SSA's pamphlet lists certain Icelandic provisions the agreement does not apply to, such as a social assistance supplement for low-income disabled workers, a child benefit payable to old-age workers in special circumstances, and the calculation of residence in Iceland before age 67 for the invalidity benefit.

How the U.S. counts Iceland credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Iceland 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).

Iceland's side

The Icelandic system measures coverage in months; SSA's pamphlet says 12 months of Icelandic coverage equals four U.S. credits. To have your United States and Icelandic credits counted together for an Icelandic benefit, you must have at least 12 months of coverage credited under the Icelandic system.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet shows an Icelandic retirement benefit at age 67 with at least 40 years of contributions (private sector) or age 65 with at least 32 years (public sector).
• Each country pays its own benefit. Iceland pays monthly, covering the current month. The U.S. pays monthly.
• 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 Iceland: contact any Icelandic Tryggingastofnun (social security) office for Icelandic benefits, and the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway for U.S. benefits (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.