With respect to Korea,
With respect to The U.S.,
This Agreement shall apply to any person who is or who has been subject to the legislation of either Korea or the USA, and to the dependents and survivors of such a person irrespective of their nationality. Therefore, any person such as a national of the contracting country, a stateless person, a refugee or a national of a third country who is or has been subject to the legislation of either contracting country shall be covered by this agreement with his/her dependents and survivors.
※ For more information, you may refer to the sectionText of Agreement
※ For more information, you may refer to the section Agreement or Guide for Exemption Application
| Type | Work Status | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | Employed in The U.S. | |
| You are employed and working in the U.S. | The U.S. | |
| You are employed in Korea and sent to work in The U.S. for less than 5 years(a 3-year extension is available) | Korea | |
| You are employed in Korea and sent to work in The U.S. for more than 5 years (without getting approval for an extension) | The U.S. | |
| employed in Korea | ||
| You are employed and working in Korea | Korea | |
| You are employed in the U.S. and sent to work in Korea for less than 5 years(a 3-year extension is available) | The U.S. | |
| You are employed in The U.S. and sent to work in Korea for more than 5 years(without getting approval for an extension) | Korea | |
| Self-employed | Self-employed in the U.S. | |
| You reside in Korea but are self-employed in in the U.S. | Korea | |
| You reside in Korea but are self-employed in both Korea and The U.S. | Korea | |
| Self-employed in Korea | ||
| You reside in the U.S. but are self-employed in Korea | The U.S. | |
| You reside in The U.S. but are self-employed in both Korea and The U.S. | The U.S. |
Even though your periods of coverage in one country are not sufficient to qualify for pension benefits, you may be eligible for benefits after this Agreement has entered into force. This is possible due to totalization of coverage in both countries.
Korean National Pension Benefits under the Social Security Agreement
If you have more than 18 months of insured period in Korea but do not have enough periods of coverage(e.g., 20 years for Full Old-age pension) to qualify for pension benefits under the Korean pension system, you may be able to qualify for Korean benefits by totalizing periods of coverage under the Korean pension system and the American pension system. However, those periods creditable under the American pension system, must not coincide with the periods under the legislation of Korea. Your benefit is calculated by dividing the Korean periods of coverage by the total periods of coverage and then multiplying by the Theoretical Benefit. The Theoretical Benefit is calculated based on the totalized periods in both countries.
American Pension Benefits under the Social Security Agreement
If you have more than 18 months of insured period in the USA but do not have enough periods of coverage(e.g., 10 years for Full Old-age pension) to qualify for pension benefits under the American pension system, you may be able to qualify for American benefits by totalizing periods of coverage under the Korean pension system and the American pension system. However, those periods creditable under the Korean pension scheme, must not coincide with the periods under the American legislation.
The American agency shall compute a pro rata Primary Insurance Amount in accordance with American laws based on (a) the person's average earnings credited exclusively under American laws and (b) the ratio of the duration of the person's periods of coverage completed under American laws to the duration of a coverage lifetime as determined in accordance with American laws. Benefits payable under American laws shall be based on the pro rata Primary Insurance Amount.
※ For more information, you may refer to the section Agreement or Guide for Exemption Application
As regards Korea,
As regards the U.S.,
If you are mandatorily covered by the Korean National Pension Scheme, and you would like to be exempt from paying contributions (social security tax) to the pension system of the U.S., you must get "a Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement" from the National Pension Service of Korea and submit(show) it to the U.S. Agency
A request for a Korean Certificate of Coverage
If you are an employee, your employer must request a Korean Certificate of Coverage.
If you are self-employed, you yourself must request a Korean Certificate of Coverage.
Who requires a Korean Certificate of Coverage?
How to request a Korean Certificate of Coverage under the Social Security Agreement?
The employer or self-employed person must request a Korean Certificate of Coverage by visiting the National Pension Service of Korea with the required documents or sending the required documents to the National Pension Service of Korea by mail or fax.
Required Documents
※ "Application for Certificate of Coverage under Social Security Agreement" is available on our website → Social Security Agreement → Forms or you can get them by visiting NPS regional office and by copying the form in the manual brochure at the NPS.
Submission of the Certificate of Coverage to the U.S. Agency
In the U.S., since an employer or a self-employed person is normally responsible for reporting and paying social security tax, you do not have to pay contributions for the period of coverage specified on the Korean Certificate of Coverage under the Social Security Agreement. However, when the U.S. agency requests the evidence for the exemption, you have to show that Certificate of Coverage.
If a contributor has already paid contributions for the previous exemption period, within a certain period, he/she is able to request a refund according to the interior procedure. However, in some cases, there could be limitations on the period regarding retroactive exemptions or refunds, so we recommend that you request the exemption allowing a suitable amount of time.(in the case of the U.S., 3 years)
If you are mandatorily covered by the U.S. Pension System, and you would like to be exempt from coverage under the Korean National Pension Scheme, you must get a Certificate of Coverage from the U.S. Agency in the U.S. and submit it to the National Pension Service.
A request for a Certificate of Coverage from The U.S.
If you are an employee, your employer must request a Certificate of Coverage from a U.S. Agency. If you are self-employed, you must request a Certificate of Coverage by yourself.
Who requires a U.S. Certificate of Coverage?
How can I request a U.S. Certificate of Coverage under the Social Security Agreement?
After contacting the U.S. Agency by phone or fax, you must request a certificate with the required documents according to the agency's procedures.
Issuing Agency of U.S. Certificate of Coverage
Social Security Administration, Office of International Programs (Tel. 1 410 965 7306)
Submission of the Certificate of Coverage to the Korean National Pension Service
If you are a worker, your employer in Korea (if self-employed, you yourself) must submit an "application of exemption" as well as an original copy of "U.S. Certificate of Coverage", and a copy of your identification to the International Center or the regional office by visiting or by sending a registered letter. (Because an original copy must be submitted, a facsimile or a copy of the Certificate will not be accepted)
If you submit a U.S. Certificate of Coverage, you are exempt from Korean National Pension and the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance for the period shown on the same Certificate. If you have already paid contributions before you submit your certificate, the amount of the contributions already paid can be transferred to your due contributions or refunded. However, in accordance with the regulations of the National Pension Scheme, the right to request for a refund of over-collected amount becomes valid only up to 5 years from the day following the processing of a qualification change, therefore, we recommend that you request the exemption within the required period.
※ Information here on our website is a general guide. You can get more information at the International Center of the NPS or any regional office of NPS.
If you have periods of coverage both in Korea and the U.S., but do not have enough periods of coverage under the Korean Pension system to qualify for Korean pension benefits, you may be able to qualify for Korean benefits by submitting the following required documents as long as you meet the requirements for entitlement based on totalization of periods under both the Korean pension system.
Requirements for entitlement classified by the types, eligible persons, the method of filling out the forms and required documents are introduced respectively under each benefits link above.
A claimant must submit "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement" to the NPS and to the U.S. Agency.
At the time of applying for benefits by mail, you are recommended to be fully aware of the requirements for the Benefit Application by asking NPS by phone. In this way, you will ensure the proper preparation of the documents and avoid any unnecessary delays in payments. Otherwise, you might waste time in correcting errors or omissions on the Application.
You can download the form of "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement" from our website or get it at the NPS's regional office, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea Abroad, or a the U.S. agency.
Eligible Persons
If you meet the following conditions for the benefits by totalizing both countries' periods of coverage, you may be able to apply for the Korean Old-age pension under the Social Security Agreement. However, to be eligible to have your Korean periods counted, you must have completed at least 18 months.
| Type | Totalized period of Coverage | Age of the first benefit payment | Other Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Old-age Pension | 20 years or more | age of 60 (55) | less than 65, not engaged in income-earning activities |
| Reduced Old-age Pension | from 10 years to less than 20 years | age of 60 (55) | less than 65, not engaged in income-earning activities |
| Active Old-age Pension | 10 years or more | age from 60 to 65 (55-60) | engaged in income-earning activities |
| Early Old-age Pension | 10 years | age of 55 | less than 65, not engaged in income-earning activities |
| Special Old-age Pension | from 5 years to less than 10 years | age of 60 (55) | more than certain years of age |
Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents
If you want to apply for an Old-age pension, you must fill out Part A (General information), Part B (Application for an Old-age Pension), Part I (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement" and submit it with the following required documents.
A copy of your Korean bank account information
※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out the Overseas Remittance section Part G (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a copy of your foreign bank account information.
In the case of Early Old-age Pension
If you have any dependents supported by you,
※ If you have a certificate of disability registration falling under the 1st or 2nd degree based on the Korean Welfare of Disabled Persons Act prior to the date on which reasons of payment occur (e.g., the date when an Old-age pensioner reaches pensionable age, when a Disability pensioner has finished his/her medical treatment or 2 years have passed since the first medical examination, or in the case of Survivor Pension, when the person who is/was a contributor dies) it is considered as a document of verification for disability.
Eligible Persons
If you lived with your ex-spouse for 5 years or more while your spouse was paying contributions, and your spouse is a beneficiary of Old-age Pension under the social security agreement, you may apply for a divided pension if you meet the following conditions for the benefits. However, to be eligible for the benefits, you must have completed at least 12 months of coverage in Korea.
Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents
If you want to apply for a Divided Pension, you must fill out Part A (General information), Part C (Application for a Divided Pension), Part I (to be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement" and submit it with the following required documents.
A copy of your Korean bank account information
※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out the Overseas Remittance section Part G (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a copy of your foreign bank account information.
Eligible Persons
If you have periods of coverage in Korea and come to be disabled while you are covered under the U.S. Pension Plan, you may apply for the Korean Disability Pension under the Social Security Agreement. However, to be eligible for the benefits, you must have completed at least 12 months of coverage in Korea.
Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents
If you want to apply for a Disability Pension, you must fill out Part A (General information), Part D (Application for a Disability Pension), Part I (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement" and submit it with the following required documents.
A copy of your Korean bank account information
※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out Overseas Remittance section Part G (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a copy of your foreign bank account information.
Documents to verify your disability history
If the accident occurred while you were working
If you receive compensation from a person who caused you harm, you need the related documents
If you have any dependents supported by you,
Eligible Persons
A surviving dependent of the person who meets the following conditions can apply for a Survivor pension. However, to be eligible for the benefits, he/she must have completed at least 12 months of coverage in Korea
Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents
If a person wants to apply for a Survivor Pension, he/she must fill out Part A (General information), Part E (Application for a Survivor Pension), Part I (To be signed by the applicant) on the Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement and submit it with the following required documents.
A copy of your Korean bank account information
※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out Overseas Remittance section Part G (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a copy of your foreign bank account information.
Documents to confirm the beneficiary's death
Documents to show the result of the first medical examination
If the accident occurred while working
If you receive compensation from a person who caused you harm, you need the related documents.
Eligible Persons
If you are subject to the legislation of the U.S. and meet the following conditions, you may apply for a Lump-sum refund. However, once you have received the Lump-sum refund, your concerned Insured periods are not totalized for the Korean National Pension or the U.S. Old-age Pension, the U.S. Pension Plan. Therefore, it may be advantageous for you to apply for a Pension instead of the Lump-sum refund.
※ For the U.S., contributions paid after the entry into force of the Agreement on Social Security between Korea and The U.S. (May 1, 1999) are only granted to the beneficiary in the type of Lump-sum refund.
Filling out the Application Form and Required Documents
If you want to apply for a Lump-sum refund, you must fill out Part A (General information), Part F (Application for a Lump-sum refund), Part I (To be signed by the applicant) on the "Application for Korean Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement" and submit it with the following required documents.
A copy of your Korean bank account information
※ If you want overseas remittance, you must fill out Overseas Remittance section Part G (Method of Payment of Benefit) and submit a certificate of your foreign bank account information.
When you apply because you are leaving Korea
When you apply because of death
※ Information here on our website is a general guide. You can get more information at the International Relations Team of the NPS or any regional office of NPS.
Eligible Persons
If you have periods of coverage in the U.S. for 12 months or more and meet the following conditions by totalizing the periods of coverage under the Korean and the U.S. pension systems, you are able to apply the U.S. benefits.
| Type | Requirements for Benefits | |
|---|---|---|
| Old Age Security Pension | Old Age Security Pension | Resident in the U.S.: have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years after the age of 18 and have reached age 65 Resident outside the U.S.: have lived in the U.S. for at least 20 years after the age of 18 and have reached age 65 |
| The Guaranteed Income Supplement | A beneficiary of the Old Age Security Pension living in the U.S. and has no income except the Old Age Security Pension | |
| Allowance for Spouse |
Aged 60 to 64 and a spouse of a beneficiary of the Guaranteed Income Supplement Aged 60 to 64 not engaged in income-earning activities and spouse has deceased |
|
| The U.S. Pension Plan | Retirement Pension |
Over age 65 and has made contributions to the Plan for at least one year valid contribution Aged 60 to 64 and has made contributions to the Plan at least one year valid contribution and not engage in income-earning activities Aged 60 to 64 and has made contributions to the Plan for at least one year valid contribution and annual income does not exceed the amount of the Retirement Pension |
| Disability Benefits | disabled and cannot be engaged in income-earning activities and has made contributions to the Plan at least four of the six years immediately before disablement occurred | |
| Survivor Benefits |
a spouse of a deceased contributor who has made contributions to the Plan for a certain period (between 3 and 10 years) and
a contributor's child under age 18 with the same conditions |
|
Filling out and Submitting the Application Form
The "Application for the U.S. Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement" form is available at Income Security Programs Human Resources Development of the U.S. or National Pension Service of Korea.
A claimant must fill out the "Application for the U.S. Benefits under the Korea-The U.S. Social Security Agreement" by referring to the Guide or asking the agent of The U.S. and submit required documents according to the pension type to Income Security Programs Human Resources Development of the U.S. or National Pension Service of Korea
※ Information here on our website is a general guide. You can get more information at the U.S. agency.
Reference Video(U.S, Part 1) : Qualification for applying for U.S. pension and how to prepare documents, ets. (https://youtu.be/ieCWkIC1LUg)
Reference Video(U.S, Part 2) : How to receive U.S. pension into a Korean Account (https://youtu.be/VHdcEcPFICs)