U.S. and Netherlands: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Nov 1, 1990

For the Netherlands, the agreement covers invalidity insurance, general old-age insurance, general surviving spouse's and orphan's insurance, sickness insurance, unemployment insurance and children's allowances. It does not cover social or medical assistance schemes or special schemes for civil servants. Workers exempted from Dutch coverage pay no Dutch taxes for other programs such as health and sickness insurance, unemployment and family allowances and generally cannot receive benefits from them.

How the U.S. counts Netherlands credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Netherlands 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 Netherlands' side

Under the agreement, people who meet certain conditions can get an increased Dutch old-age pension, or use their U.S. credits to help qualify for a Dutch disability or survivors pension. A person can qualify for a Dutch old-age pension (AOW) with as little as one year of Dutch coverage, so U.S. credits are not counted for eligibility for the old-age pension. For disability and survivors pensions, the worker may meet the Dutch coverage requirement with credit for a minimum of 12 months of Dutch coverage and recent U.S. coverage (or eligibility for a U.S. benefit) at the time the disability began or at death.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet says full AOW benefits are payable at age 65 with 50 years of AOW coverage, proportionately reduced if fewer than 50 years, with a minimum of one year of AOW coverage. The pamphlet's age is printed as 65; check with the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) for the current retirement age.
• The Netherlands pays each month for the preceding 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 the Netherlands: contact any Dutch social security office, or the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, Ireland (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.