U.S. and Poland: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Mar 1, 2009

For Poland, the agreement covers old-age, disability and survivors' pensions, one-time indemnity payments and pensions awarded as a result of work accidents and occupational diseases, and funeral grants. It does not cover uniformed government employees, judges or prosecutors. Workers exempted from Polish coverage generally cannot receive benefits from those other programs.

How the U.S. counts Poland credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Poland 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).

Poland's side

Poland pays through two programs: ZUS (the general system) and KRUS (for farmers). The Polish system measures credits in months. To have your U.S. credits counted for a Polish benefit, you must have earned at least 12 months of Polish coverage.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet gives Poland's normal retirement age as 65 for males and 60 for females, with different coverage requirements depending on the program and birth date. Check with the Polish authorities for current rules.
• Poland pays by direct deposit on the last banking day of the month, covering that 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 Poland: contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow (ul. Stolarska 9) or the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw (ul. Piekna 12), or any Polish social security office to file for U.S. or Polish benefits.

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.