U.S. and Ireland: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Sep 1, 1993

For Ireland, the agreement covers the old-age (contributory) pension, retirement pension, surviving spouses' (contributory) pension, invalidity pension, orphans' (contributory) allowance, death grant, and the liability for payment of employment and self-employment contributions. Workers exempted from Irish coverage by the agreement pay no Irish social security taxes for other programs such as unemployment, maternity, occupational injuries and health insurance benefits and generally cannot receive benefits from them.

How the U.S. counts Ireland credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Ireland 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).

Ireland's side

The Irish system measures credits in weeks. To have your United States and Irish credits counted together for an Irish benefit, you must have at least 52 weeks of coverage credited under the Irish system.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet describes a retirement pension at age 65 and an old-age pension at age 66, each requiring at least 156 weeks of paid contributions plus other conditions. Check with the Irish authorities for current rules.
• Ireland pays near the end of each month for the next month. The U.S. pays monthly. Each country pays its own benefit.
• 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 Ireland: contact any Irish social security office, or the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin (42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4).

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.