At present, Belgium has bilateral agreements with 25 countries: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada (including a separate agreement with Quebec), Brazil, Chile, DRC, Philippines, India, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco, San Marino, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, the United States and South Korea. A list of countries with which the United States currently has totalization agreements and copies of these agreements can be accessed under U.S. international social security agreements. The United States has agreements with several nations, the so-called totalization conventions, in order to avoid double taxation of income in relation to social contributions. These agreements must be taken into account in determining whether a foreigner is subject to the U.S. Social Security Tax/Medicare or whether a U.S. citizen or resident alien is subject to the social security taxes of a foreign country. If you have any questions about international social security agreements, please contact the Office of International Social Security Programs at 410-965-3322 or 410-965-7306. However, do not call these numbers if you want to inquire about a right to an individual benefit. Under U.S.
Social Security, you can earn up to four credits per year, depending on the amount of your salary covered. The amount needed to earn a work credit increases slightly each year. The Belgian system measures credits in months. To simplify the information, the table shows the need for years of credits. The Social Security Administration also publishes small brochures briefly decrying the terms of each totalization agreement. These brochures are available from many local social security agencies or can be ordered at 800-772-1213. In addition, the full text of these brochures and totalization agreements is available on the website of the administration of international conventions of the administration of social security. The table below presents the different types of social security benefits to be paid under the social security plans of the United States and Belgium and briefly outlines the eligibility requirements normally applicable to each type of benefit. If you do not meet the normal conditions for these benefits, the agreement can help you qualify (see “How Benefits Can Be Paid”). The rules set out in Article 5 are subject to the following exceptions: If this table does not appear to describe you and you: you can apply to one country and request that your application be considered a right to benefits from the other country.
The information from your application will then be sent to the other country.