Cross-Border Pension Calculator
Workers who have contributed to Social Security in the US and in another totalization agreement country may be entitled to benefits from both systems. If you have fewer than 40 US credits (the minimum for a regular US benefit), the Social Security Administration can combine US and foreign credits to establish eligibility, then pay a pro-rata US benefit based on the fraction of credits actually earned in the US. This calculator estimates that pro-rata share. Enter the US credits earned, the foreign credits earned, and a realistic full-career US monthly benefit estimate (obtainable from ssa.gov/myaccount).
Totalization pro-rata benefit formula
Total credits = US credits + foreign credits
US credit ratio = US credits / total credits
Pro-rata US benefit = full US benefit x US credit ratio
The SSA calculates the theoretical benefit as if all combined credits were US credits, then multiplies by the pro-rata fraction. This is a simplified estimate. The SSA uses the actual AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings) computation based on US wages only for the benefit calculation.
Totalization agreement key facts
- You must have at least 6 US credits to use totalization. With fewer than 6, foreign credits cannot be used to establish US benefit eligibility.
- Totalization also eliminates dual Social Security tax obligations. You pay into only one system at a time when the agreement applies.
- Contact the SSA to obtain a formal benefit estimate based on your actual earnings record.
- The SSA publishes the list of agreement countries and summaries of each agreement at ssa.gov/international/agreements_overview.html.
Frequently asked questions
What is a totalization agreement?
A totalization agreement is a bilateral social security treaty that coordinates benefits between two countries for workers who have divided their careers between them. The US has totalization agreements with 30 countries, allowing periods of coverage to be combined.
How is the pro-rata benefit calculated?
Under the totalization method, the US first calculates a theoretical benefit as if all combined credits were earned in the US. It then pays a pro-rata share equal to that theoretical benefit multiplied by the fraction of actual US credits over total combined credits.
What counts as a credit for Social Security purposes?
A US Social Security credit (quarter of coverage) is earned by paying Social Security tax on at least $1,730 of covered earnings in 2024. You can earn up to 4 credits per year. Most workers need 40 credits (10 years) for full retirement benefits.
Can I receive benefits from both countries simultaneously?
Yes. Under totalization agreements you may receive a separate pro-rata benefit from each country based on your credits in each. The two benefits are independent and are not combined into a single payment.
What countries does the US have totalization agreements with?
As of 2024 the US has totalization agreements with 30 countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The full list is published by the SSA at ssa.gov.
Official sources
- Social Security Administration, Totalization Agreements: ssa.gov/international/agreements_overview.html.
- SSA Publication No. 05-10137, US International Social Security Agreements: ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.