U.S.-Polish Retirement Benefits Agreement Effective March 1, 2009

22 December 2008

Ambassador Ashe further noted that the Agreement will help “real people in real life.”  Beginning in March, retirement beneficiaries in Poland will be able to combine their years for work in Poland with those in the United States.  The Agreement will also eliminate double ZUS/KRUS and Social Security taxation.  For many Polish Social Security beneficiaries and their family members, the agreement will protect their right to Social Security benefits even if they reside outside of the United States.

Currently, a large number of Poles who are the surviving family members of U.S. citizens and workers are eligible for U.S. Social Security benefits.  Many of these people, often widows, are living on very tight incomes and they rely greatly on these benefits to survive and provide for their families.  Current regulations have made it difficult for them to receive these benefits when they live in Poland.  When implemented, the Totalization Agreement will directly assist these people by eliminating these regulations and protect their right to receive their benefits.