U.S. and Spain: Social Security Agreement

What it covers

In force: Apr 1, 1988

For Spain, the agreement covers the General System of Social Security for provisional or permanent disability due to ordinary illness or nonwork-related injury, old age, death and survivorship, plus special systems for agricultural, maritime, coal mining, railroad and domestic workers, the self-employed, and several other occupational groups (SSA's pamphlet lists them). Workers exempted from Spanish coverage pay no Spanish taxes for other programs such as short-term sickness, health insurance, unemployment, workers' compensation and family allowances and generally cannot receive benefits from them.

How the U.S. counts Spain credits

Applies to every U.S. agreement.

• SSA says that to have your Spain 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).

Spain's side

The Spanish system measures credits in days of contributions. To have your United States and Spanish credits counted together for a Spanish benefit, you must have at least one year of coverage credited under the Spanish system.

Ages, payments and forms

• SSA's pamphlet says a worker must have contributed at least 15 years (including at least two years in the last 15) for a Spanish old-age pension, and describes a retirement age that is rising gradually (for 2023 it printed 65 with 37 years and 9 months of contributions, or 66 years and 4 months with fewer). Check with Spain's social security for the age that applies on the date you apply.
• Spain pays each month for the preceding month. SSA's pamphlet says residents of the United States generally receive Spanish benefits through international postal money orders. The U.S. pays monthly. Each country pays its own benefit.
• SSA's pamphlet says you can apply for Spanish benefits at any U.S. Social Security office by completing Form E/USA, or mail the completed form 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 Spain: contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid (Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid; email fbu.madrid@ssa.gov), or any Spanish social security office.

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.