International Programs
Totalization Agreement with Romania
Introduction
The Romanian Agreement covers old-age, survivors, and disability benefits. The Romanian social security program consists of a three-pillar system. The second and third pillars exist to supplement the basic benefit and are not subject to this Agreement for purposes of benefits.
The first pillar is a mandatory defined benefit pension financed on a pay-as-you-go basis. The second pillar serves as a supplemental, voluntary occupational pension system. The third pillar is a voluntary, tax-deductible savings scheme available to both employers and employees.
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Eliminating dual coverage for self-employment
- Self-employed workers who reside in the United States are assigned U.S. coverage.
- Self-employed workers who reside in Romania are assigned Romanian coverage.
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Romanian certificates for employees and self-employed workers
Employers and self-employed workers must request a certificate of coverage to establish an exemption from U.S. Social Security contributions.
Please mail your request to:
National House of Public Pension
#8 Latina Street,
2nd District,
Bucharest
Zip code 020793
ROMANIA
Official webpage: https://www.cnpp.ro/en/home
U.S. employers should retain certificates of coverage in case of an audit by the IRS. Employers should not send a copy to the IRS unless the IRS specifically requests the certificate of coverage.
Self-employed workers should attach a copy of the certificate of coverage to their U.S. tax return every year as proof of the exemption.
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Monthly benefits
Under U.S. Social Security, you may earn up to four credits each year depending on the amount of your covered earnings. For example, in 2022, you receive one credit for each $1,410 of your covered annual earnings up to a maximum of four credits per year. The amount needed to earn a work credit increases slightly each year.
Romania will credit three months of Romanian coverage for each quarter of U.S. coverage. However, Romania will not credit any month that it has already credited as a month of coverage under any Romanian system. If the Social Security Administration certifies four quarters of coverage in any calendar year, Romania will credit a maximum of twelve months of coverage.
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Retirement or old-age benefits |
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United States |
Romania |
Worker—Full benefit at full retirement age.* Reduced benefit as early as age 62. Required work credits range from one and one-half to 10 years (10 years if age 62 in 1991 or later). |
The regular retirement age in Romania is age 65 for males and 61 years and 10 months for females (gradually increasing to age 63 by January 1, 2030) with at least 15 years of contributions to the Romanian system. Early retirement is possible under the system, provided the worker exceeds the full contribution period by at least eight years and is no more than five years under the standard retirement age at the time of filing. Additional retirement age reductions are available to the following: Persons who contributed under special, difficult, or other specific working conditions; Persons who contributed to the system while being disabled; Persons persecuted for political reasons by the former communist regime; Blind persons; and other categories of persons, defined by special legislation. The Romanian system requires a minimum of 15 years of coverage for entitlement to an old-age benefit but provides incentives in the form of a higher benefit amount for workers making additional contributions to the system. Additionally, Romania supplements benefit amounts for workers who meet the criteria for an early retirement benefit but elect to defer receipt of their benefit past the retirement age. |
*Full retirement age is 66 for people born in 1943-1954 and will gradually increase to age 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
Disability benefits |
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United States |
Romania |
Worker—Under full retirement age* can get benefit if unable to do any substantial gainful work for at least a year. One and one-half to 10 years credit needed, depending on age at date of onset. Some recent work credits also needed unless worker is blind. |
Worker— The Romanian system pays Benefits to three categories of disability beneficiaries. Category I disabled workers are completely incapable of work and self-sufficiency, requiring constant care and assistance. Category II disabled workers have also lost all work capacity but retain a degree of self sufficiency. Category III disabled workers have lost at least 50% of their work capacity but are still able to perform some professional activity. |
*Full retirement age is 66 for people born in 1943-1954 and will gradually increase to age 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
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Family benefits to dependents of retired or disabled people |
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United States |
Romania |
Spouse—Full benefit at full retirement age* or at any age if caring for the worker’s entitled child under age 16 (or disabled before age 22). Reduced benefit as early as age 62 if not caring for a child. |
Spouse—No provision. |
Divorced spouse—Full benefit at full retirement age.* Reduced benefit as early as age 62. Must be unmarried and have been married to worker for at least 10 years. |
Divorced spouse—No provision. |
Children—If unmarried, up to age 18 (age 19 if in an elementary or secondary school full time) or any age if disabled before age 22. |
Children—No provision. |
*Full retirement age is 66 for people born in 1943-1954 and will gradually increase to age 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
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Survivor Benefits |
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United States |
Romania |
Surviving Spouse—Full benefit at full retirement age* or at any age if caring for the deceased’s entitled child under age 16 (or disabled before age 22). Reduced benefit as early as age 60 (or age 50 if disabled) if not caring for child. Benefits may continue if remarriage occurs after age 60 (or age 50 if disabled). |
Surviving Spouse—To receive benefits, a surviving spouse must have been married to the deceased worker for at least ten years at the time of death and have reached the standard retirement age or have an income that is less than a statutorily defined amount. |
Divorced Surviving Spouse—Same as surviving spouse if marriage lasted at least 10 years. |
Disablied Surviving Spouse—A disabled surviving spouse must have been married to the deceased worker for at least one year. |
Children—Same as for children of retired or disabled worker. |
Children—The following categories of children may receive benefits: children of the deceased worker under age 16; children of the deceased worker ages 16-26 and attending school or an apprenticeship; and disabled children of the deceased worker at any age, provided their disability began prior to age 16 or age 26 if in school or an apprenticeship. |
Lump-Sum Death Benefit—A one-time payment not to exceed $255 payable on the death of an insured worker. |
Death Grants—Romania will pay a death grant to an eligible family member of a deceased worker if the deceased worker was receiving a benefit or was covered under the Romanian system at the time of death. |
*The full retirement age (FRA) for survivors is age 66 for people born in 1945-1956. Beginning with anyone born in 1957, the FRA gradually increases per birth year until it reaches age 67 for people born in 1962 or later.
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How benefits can be paid
If you have social security credits in both the United States and Romania, you may be eligible for benefits from one or both countries. If you meet all the basic requirements under one country’s system, you will get a regular benefit from that country. If you do not meet the basic requirements, here is how the Agreement may help you qualify for a benefit:
- Benefits from the United States—If you do not have enough U.S. work credits to qualify for regular benefits, you may be able to qualify for a partial benefit from the United States with both United States and Romanian credits. However, for us to count your Romanian credits, you must have earned at least six credits (generally one and one-half years of work) under the U.S. system. If you already have enough credits under the U.S. system to qualify for a benefit, the United States cannot count your Romanian credits.
- Benefits from Romania—
The Agreement provides that Romania will count a worker's U.S. periods of coverage, where necessary, when determining eligibility for Romanian benefits if a worker does not meet insured status based on Romanian coverage alone and the worker has at least one year of Romanian coverage.
Romania will credit three months of Romanian coverage for each quarter of U.S. coverage. However, Romania will not credit any month that it has already credited as a month of coverage under any Romanian system. If the Social Security Administration certifies four quarters of coverage in any calendar year, Romania will credit a maximum of twelve months of coverage.
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Claims for benefits
If you live in Romania and wish to apply for benefits, contact:
National House of Public Pension
#8 Latina Street,
2nd District,
Bucharest
Zip code 020793
ROMANIA
Official webpage: https://www.cnpp.ro/en/home
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
Payment of benefits
Each country pays its own benefit. The U.S. Department of Treasury makes U.S. payments each month that cover benefits for the preceding month. Under the Romanian system, National House of Public Pension makes payments each month that cover benefits for the current month. For more information, contact National House of Public Pension at the address in the section titled, "For more information."
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For more information about Romania’s social security programs
For more information about Romania’s social security programs, visit any social security office in Romania, or write to:
National House of Public Pension
#8 Latina Street,
2nd District,
Bucharest
Zip code 020793
ROMANIA
Official webpage: https://www.cnpp.ro/en/home