U.S. and Portugal: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Aug 1, 1989

For Portugal, the agreement covers the general social security system of old-age, survivors and disability insurance and special systems for certain categories of workers, including self-employed persons, bank employees, clergymen, agricultural workers and domestic employees. SSA's pamphlet says it does not cover the system for civil servants. Workers exempted from Portuguese coverage pay no Portuguese taxes for other programs such as sickness, maternity, occupational injury, unemployment and family allowances and generally cannot receive benefits from them.

How the U.S. counts Portugal credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Portugal 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).

Portugal's side

The Portuguese system measures coverage in months. To have your United States and Portuguese credits counted together for a Portuguese benefit, you must have at least 12 months of coverage credited under the Portuguese system.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet shows Portuguese retirement benefits at age 66 and 4 months with 15 years of coverage, with possible earlier ages under special occupational systems. Check with Portugal's social security for the current age.
• Portugal pays early 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 Portugal: contact any Portuguese social security office, or the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon (Avenida das Forcas Armadas).

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.