U.S. and Slovak Republic: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: May 1, 2014

For the Slovak Republic, the agreement covers old-age benefits, early retirement benefits, disability benefits, surviving spouse's benefits and orphan's benefits.

How the U.S. counts Slovak Republic credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Slovak Republic 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 Slovak Republic's side

The Slovak system measures credits in days. If you do not have enough work credits under the Slovak system, the Slovak Republic can count your U.S. credits to help you qualify. For the Slovak Republic to count your U.S. credits, you must have at least 12 months of coverage under the Slovak system unless an exception applies.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet shows a full Slovak old-age benefit at pension age (depending on date of birth, sex and number of children raised) with at least 15 years of coverage, with early retirement possible under conditions the pamphlet lists.
• The Slovak Social Insurance Agency pays monthly, covering the current month. The U.S. pays monthly. Each country pays its own benefit.
• SSA's pamphlet says that if you are claiming Slovak benefits, in addition to Form SSA-2490-BK you must complete Form SK/USA 2 (Claim for Pension Benefits from the Pension Insurance System of the Slovak Republic), available from your local Social Security office, the Slovak social security agency or the Federal Benefits Unit in Poland.

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 Slovak Republic: contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland (ul. Piekna 12), 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.