U.S. and Romania: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Sep 1, 2026

SSA says the agreement covers old-age, survivors and disability benefits. Romania's program has three pillars: the first is a mandatory pay-as-you-go defined benefit pension; the second is a supplemental, voluntary occupational pension system; the third is a voluntary, tax-deductible savings scheme. SSA says the second and third pillars supplement the basic benefit and are not subject to this agreement for purposes of benefits.

How the U.S. counts Romania credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Romania 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).

Romania's side

SSA says Romania will count a worker's U.S. periods of coverage, where necessary, if the worker does not meet Romania's insured status on Romanian coverage alone and has at least one year of Romanian coverage. Romania credits three months of Romanian coverage for each quarter of U.S. coverage, but not for any month it has already credited under a Romanian system. If SSA certifies four quarters in a calendar year, Romania credits a maximum of twelve months. The agreement text (Article 12) adds that if your Romanian coverage totals less than one year and gives you no right on its own, Romania does not award a benefit based on it.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet says the regular Romanian retirement age is 65 for males and 61 years and 10 months for females (gradually increasing to 63 by January 1, 2030), with at least 15 years of contributions. Early retirement is possible under conditions the pamphlet lists. Check with Romania's pension house for the age that applies to you.
• The agreement was signed March 23, 2023 and entered into force September 1, 2026. It does not create a right to a benefit for any period before that date, and the benefits part applies only to claims filed on or after that date (agreement text, Articles 23 and 28).
• U.S. side (agreement text, Article 8): the U.S. credits one quarter for every three months of coverage certified by Romania, no credit for a quarter already credited in the U.S., and no more than four credits a year. The U.S. benefit is a pro rata amount based only on your U.S. average earnings and the ratio of your U.S. coverage to a coverage lifetime.
• A claim filed in one country counts as a claim in the other if you ask that it be treated that way, or if you give information showing coverage in the other country and do not ask to restrict the claim (agreement text, Article 23).
• Each country pays its own benefit. Romania's National House of Public Pension pays each month, covering the current month. The U.S. pays monthly, covering the preceding month.

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 Romania: contact the National House of Public Pension, #8 Latina Street, 2nd District, Bucharest, Zip code 020793, Romania. In the United States, SSA's pamphlet lists no special application form for this agreement, so ask SSA.

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.