The social security benefits agreement signed in April between Poland, the United States and Canada, is the result of an over three-years long laborious negotiations. The agreement provides for combining the years of insurance coverage from all three countries – Poland, the United States and Canada – when calculating social security benefits one is entitled to receive. Representatives of the Social Security and Labor Departments promised to answer questions about combined social security benefits from Nowy Dziennik readers.

For many immigrants the new law means that they will get some social security benefits after all. For some others, the agreement means that their benefits will be higher. Calculations of those benefits are somewhat complicated, as they will be paid by two different sources (Polish and U.S. Social Security systems), although from one location to be chosen by the insured. The employment history from both countries will be summed up. A minimum of 25 years of employment warrants the right to collect social security benefits.

In order to obtain combined social security benefits, a future retiree will be required to submit, in the country of residence, a request for calculation of those benefits and provide appropriate certifications of employment.

The new law is retroactive, which means that if someone had retired before this agreement was signed and the Polish Social Security Department had already calculated the benefits based solely on the retiree’s employment record from Poland, this individual has the right to request that his/her social security benefits are re-calculated and that appropriate adjustments be made.

It’s important to understand that the new agreement will benefit all those who have been employed legally and have paid taxes.

Requests to re-calculate social security benefits will be probably accepted starting the beginning of the next year. More detailed information should be available in the early fall.

Nowy Dziennik invites all its readers to ask questions regarding combined social security benefits. Social Security representatives have promised to answer all those questions. Inquiries will be accepted until September 15.