*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.
1992.04.14 :  U.S.-Irish Social Security Agreement

Contact: Phil Gambino or Frank Battistelli (410) 965-8904
April 14, 1992

        HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., and Irish Minister
for Social Welfare Charlie McCreevy signed an agreement today in
Washington to coordinate the U.S. and Irish Social Security
programs.  The agreement will eliminate duplicate coverage and
taxation under the two countries' Social Security systems,
Secretary Sullivan announced.
        Until now, many U.S. citizens and residents working in
Ireland for American employers have had to pay Social Security
contributions--together with their employers--to both countries
for the same work.  The combined U.S. and Irish contributions
payable by an employer and employee could exceed 35 percent of an
employee's salary.
        Frequently, Irish nationals working in the United States
have also been required to make Social Security contributions to
both countries.  Once the agreement becomes effective, these
workers and their employers will be covered under either U.S. or
Irish Social Security, but not both.
        The agreement, which will be administered in the United
States by the Social Security Administration, will also help
enhance Social Security benefit protection for people who have
spent time working in both countries.  At present, some workers
who have divided their careers between the United States and
Ireland fail to qualify for Social Security benefits from one or
both countries because they have not worked long enough to meet
minimum eligibility requirements.
        Under the agreement, it will be possible for these
workers and their family members to qualify for partial U.S. or
Irish benefits based on combined Social Security credits from
both countries.  When entitlement to a benefit is based on
combined credits, the benefit amount will be proportional to the
amount of work completed in the paying country.
        Negotiations on the U.S./Irish agreement began in 1988. 
It is expected the agreement will be transmitted to Congress
later this year, with implementation likely sometime during the
second half of 1993.
        The United States has similar Social Security agreements
in effect with 12 other European countries and Canada.  U.S.
officials have also signed agreements with Finland and Luxembourg
that are awaiting enactment.

                                ###