98-4160. Finding Regarding the Social Insurance System of Albania  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 8514]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-4160]
    
    
    
    [[Page 8514]]
    
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    SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
    
    
    Finding Regarding the Social Insurance System of Albania
    
    AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
    
    ACTION: Notice of finding regarding the Social Insurance System of 
    Albania.
    
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    Finding
    
        Section 202(t)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(t)(1)) 
    prohibits payment of monthly benefits to any individual who is not a 
    United States citizen or national for any month after he or she has 
    been outside the United States for 6 consecutive months, and prior to 
    the first month thereafter for all of which, the individual has been in 
    the United States. This prohibition does not apply to such an 
    individual where one of the exceptions described in sections 202(t)(2) 
    through 202(t)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(t)(2)-(5)) 
    affects his or her case.
        Section 202(t)(2) of the Social Security Act provides that, subject 
    to certain residency requirements of section 202(t)(11), the 
    prohibition against payment shall not apply to any individual who is a 
    citizen of a country which the Commissioner of Social Security finds 
    has in effect a social insurance system which is of general application 
    in such country and which:
        (a) Pays periodic benefits, or the actuarial equivalent thereof, on 
    account of old age, retirement, or death; and
        (b) Permits individuals who are United States citizens but not 
    citizens of that country and who qualify for such benefits to receive 
    those benefits, or the actuarial equivalent thereof, while outside the 
    foreign country regardless of the duration of the absence.
        The Commissioner of Social Security has delegated the authority to 
    make such a finding to the Associate Commissioner for International 
    Policy. Under that authority, the Associate Commissioner for 
    International Policy has approved a finding that Albania, as of October 
    1, 1993, has a social insurance system of general application which:
        (a) Pays periodic benefits, or the actuarial equivalent thereof, on 
    account of old age, retirement, or death; and
        (b) Permits United States citizens who are not citizens of Albania 
    and who qualify for the relevant benefits to receive those benefits, or 
    their actuarial equivalent, while outside of Albania, regardless of the 
    duration of the absence of these individuals from Albania.
        Accordingly, it is hereby determined and found that Albania has in 
    effect, as of October 1, 1993, a social insurance system which meets 
    the requirements of section 202(t)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
    U.S.C. 402(t)(2)).
        This is our first finding under section 202(t) of the Social 
    Security Act for Albania. For the period September 7, 1948 through 
    September 29, 1992, U.S. Treasury Department regulations prohibited 
    sending U.S. Government checks (including U.S. Social Security checks) 
    to, or on behalf of, individuals in Albania. These restrictions were 
    lifted on September 30, 1992.
        However, prior to October 1, 1993, the date that the People's 
    Assembly Law on Social Insurance in the Albanian Republic, Act No. 
    7703, entered into force, there was no provision for the payment of 
    benefits to U.S. citizens residing outside Albania as required under 
    section 202(t)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act. Consequently, payment 
    of benefits to Albanian citizens under the social insurance exception 
    was not possible until the new law went into effect.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Powers, Room 1104, West High 
    Rise Building, P.O. Box 17741, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 
    21235, (410) 965-3568.
    
    (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: Program Nos. 96.001 Social 
    Security--Disability Insurance; 96.002 Social Security--Retirement 
    Insurance; 96.004 Social Security--Survivors Insurance)
    
        Dated: February 5, 1998
    James A. Kissko,
    Associate Commissioner for International Policy.
    [FR Doc. 98-4160 Filed 2-18-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4190-29-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/19/1998
Department:
Social Security Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of finding regarding the Social Insurance System of Albania.
Document Number:
98-4160
Pages:
8514-8514 (1 pages)
PDF File:
98-4160.pdf