The definition of United States “territory” is identical to the definition of the United States in title II of the Act.  That definition includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa, but not the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI).  However, the Covenant establishing the NMI Commonwealth in political union with the United States provides that the U.S. Social Security program applies in this newest U.S. territory as it applies in Guam.  Because all U.S. social security agreements apply to Guam, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) began applying the Agreement to the NMI effective January 1, 1987, when the U.S. Social Security program was first extended there.  The revision made in Article 1.1 of the Agreement makes clear that the definition of United States “territory” includes the NMI.   Although the Isle of Man, the Island of Jersey and the Islands of Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Jethou are not part of the political entity known as the “United Kingdom”, they are included in the term for purposes of the Agreement.  References to Guernsey in the Agreement and in these annotations include Alderney, Herm and Jethou, which are politically linked to Guernsey and included under Guernsey’s social security system.

Pertinent U.K. social security regulations provide that the U.K. sector of the continental shelf is considered a part of the territory of the United Kingdom for social security coverage and benefit purposes.  This Agreement, in particular the provisions of Parts II and II, will therefore apply to persons who work or have worked (primarily in energy exploration and related activities) on the U.K. continental shelf.