International Programs
Totalization Agreement with Chile
Introduction
For Chile, the Agreement covers contributions and benefits for old-age, disability and survivors insurance under the systems pre- and post-1981 systems, as well as contributions for Chile’s national health insurance and workers’ compensation programs.
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
Eliminating dual coverage for self-employment
Self-employed U.S. citizens residing in Chile do not have to pay U.S. Social Security contributions on self-employment income. Self-employment coverage is voluntary under the Chilean system. Self-employed Chilean citizens residing in the United States are assigned U.S. coverage.
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
Chilean certificates for employees
Employers must request a certificate of coverage to establish an exemption from U.S. Social Security contributions.
Please mail your request to:
Old Pension System:
Superintendencia de Seguridad Social
Huérfanos N° 1273
5° Piso
Santiago
CHILE
New Pension System:
Superintendencia de Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones
Huérfanos N° 1273
13° Piso
Santiago
CHILE
Please provide the following information:
- Worker's full name (including maiden name);
- Worker's date of birth;
- Worker's place of birth;
- Worker's country of citizenship;
- Worker's country of permanent residence;
- Worker’s U.S. Social Security number;
- Worker's Chilean registration number, if applicable;
- Worker's national identification number (RUT), if applicable;
- Date of hire;
- Country of hire;
- Name and address of the employer in the United States and the Agreement country; and
- Date of transfer and anticipated date of return of employment in the Agreement country.
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.
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
Chilean certificates for self-employed workers
Self-employed U.S. citizens residing in Chile do not have to pay U.S. Social Security contributions on self-employment income. Such citizens may obtain a letter of exemption by writing to the below address.
Superintendencia de Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones
Huérfanos N° 1273
13° Piso
Santiago
CHILE
Please provide the following information:
- Full name (including paternal and maternal surnames);
- Date and place of birth;
- Citizenship;
- Country of permanent residence;
- Worker’s U.S. Social Security number;
- Chilean registration number for social insurance and the national identification number (RUT), if applicable;
- Nature of self-employment activity;
- Dates the activity was or will be performed; and
- Name and address of your trade or business in both countries.
Self-employed workers should attach a copy of the exemption to their U.S. tax return every year as proof of the exemption.
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
Monthly benefits
Chile provides benefits under both the old and new pension systems. Under the old pension system, Chile bases old-age, disability and survivors insurance benefits on a worker’s average earnings and length of coverage. Under the new system, employees contribute to individual investment accounts and benefits depend on the investment yield of the accounts. The table shows the requirements for Chilean benefits under both the old and new systems.
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 goes up slightly each year. For more information, see How You Earn Credits (Publication No. 05-10072).
The Chilean system, measures credits in months. To simplify the information, the table shows requirements in years of credits.
|
Retirement or old-age benefits |
|||||
| Beneficiary/Type of benefit | Social Security System | ||||
|
United States | Chile | |||
| New System | Old System | ||||
| Salaried employees | Wage earners | Public employees | |||
| Retirement benefits | All Chilean Programs — Men must be age 65, women age 60 | ||||
Worker |
You will get full benefits at full retirement age* or at any age if caring for the deceased’s entitled child under age 16 (or disabled before age 22). You will get reduced benefits as early as age 60 (or age 50 if disabled) if not caring for child. Benefits may continue if you remarry after age 60 (or age 50 if disabled). | There is no minimum contribution period required. You are guaranteed minimum benefit with 20 years of contributions. Early retirement is possible if your individual account balance is sufficient to fund a specified minimum benefit. |
Both male and female salaried employees must have 10 years of contributions and must have contributed within two years before reaching retirement age. | Male wage earners must have either (1) 20 years of contributions; or (2) 800 weeks of contributions including contributions in one half of all weeks since initial coverage. Female wage earners must have contributed at least 10 years. | Both male and female workers must have 10 years of contributions and must be contributing on date they reach 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 |
|||||
| Beneficiary | Social Security System | ||||
|
United States | Chile | |||
| New System | Old System | ||||
| Salaried employees | Wage earners | Public employees | |||
Worker |
If you are under full retirement age* you can get benefits if you are unable to do any substantial gainful work for at least a year. You must have one-and-one-half to 10 years of credit, depending on your age at date of disability onset. You also need some recent work credits unless you are blind. | You must be under normal retirement age and have an impairment that permanently reduces your ability to work by at least 50 percent. You must have contributed at time of your disability onset or you must have had contributed in six out of the 12 months immediately preceding disability onset. |
You must be under normal retirement age and have an impairment that reduces your earning capacity by 67 percent. You must have a minimum of three years of contributions and you must have contributed within two years before the onset of your disability. | You must be under normal retirement age, and totally or partially disabled. You must have made contributions for a minimum of 50 weeks and in 40 percent of the weeks in the 5 years preceding disability onset. You also must have made contributions in 50 percent of the weeks since initial coverage. Women are exempt from the third requirement, and all wage earners with more than 400 weeks of contributions are exempt from both the second and third requirements. | You must have a disability that prevents performance of your usual job, have 10 years of contributions and be contributing at the date of disability onset. |
*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.
|
Family benefits to dependents of retired or disabled people |
|||||
| Beneficiary | Social Security System | ||||
|
United States | Chile | |||
| New System | Old System | ||||
| Salaried employees | Wage earners | Public employees | |||
Spouse |
You will get full benefits at full retirement age* or at any age if you are caring for worker’s entitled child under age 16 (or disabled before age 22). You can get reduced benefit as early as age 62 if you are not caring for a child. | No provision |
No provision | No provision | No provision |
| Divorced spouse | You will get a full benefit at full retirement age* and reduced benefit as early as age 62. You must be unmarried and have been married to worker for at least 10 years. | No provision | No provision | No provision | No provision |
| Children | If you are unmarried, up to age 18 (age 19 if in an elementary or secondary school full time) or any age if disabled before age 22. | No provision | No provision | No provision | 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.
|
Survivors Benefits |
|||||
| Beneficiary/Type of benefit | Social Security System | ||||
|
United States | Chile | |||
| New System | Old System | ||||
| Salaried employees | Wage earners | Public employees | |||
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). | Widow or disabled widower can receive benefits if the worker was paying contributions or receiving an old-age or disability pension at the time of death. |
Widow or disabled widower can receive a benefit if the deceased (1) was receiving an old-age or disability pension at the time of death or (2) had a minimum of three years of contributions, and contributed within two years before death. |
Widow or disabled widower can receive a benefit if the deceased (1) Was receiving an old-age or disability pension at time of death; or (2) Met the contribution requirements for a disability pension. |
Widow or disabled widower can receive a benefit if the deceased had a minimum of three years of contributions, and the death occurred while the deceased was contributing or within two years following the date at which contributions were last made. |
Divorced Surviving Spouse |
Same as surviving spouse if marriage lasted at least 10 years. | No provision | No provision | No provision | No provision |
| Children | Same as children of retired or disabled worker. | Unmarried children up to age 18, (age 24 if full-time student) or any age if disabled. | Up to age 18 (age 25 if full-time student) or any age if disabled. |
Up to age 18, (age 24 if full-time student) or any age if disabled. | Up to age 18 (age 25 if full-time student) or any age if disabled. |
| Lump-sum death benefit | A one-time payment not to exceed $255 payable on the death of an insured worker. | A one-time payment subject to a monthly-adjusted ceiling payable to surviving spouse, children or parents, or the person or entity covering the funeral costs. If payment made to the deceased’s estate or a non-related person, the maximum benefit is equal to the legal ceiling or actual funeral expenses, whichever is less. | Deceased must have been contributing or receiving a pension at death. One-time payment equal to a maximum of three months’ minimum wage. If payment is made to the deceased’s estate or a non-related person, the maximum benefit equals three months’ minimum wage or the actual funeral expenses, whichever is less. |
||
*The full retirement age for survivors is age 66 for people born in 1945-1956 and gradually increases to age 67 for people born in 1962 or later.
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
How benefits can be paid
If you have social security credits in both the United States and Chile, 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, the Agreement may help you qualify for a benefit as explained below:
- Benefits from the United States — if you do not have enough work credits under the U.S. system to qualify for regular benefits, you may be able to qualify for a partial benefit from the United States based on both United States and Chilean credits. However, to be eligible to have your Chilean credits counted, 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 Chilean credits.
- Benefits from Chile — under Chile’s old social security system, Chile can count credits from both countries, when necessary, to establish a right to old-age, disability and survivors benefits. Under the new social security system, Chile can count credits from both countries, when necessary, to meet the coverage requirements for the guaranteed minimum benefit. In addition, Chile may count the amount of a worker’s U.S. benefit to determine eligibility for an early old-age pension under the new system.
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
Claims for benefits
If you live in the United States and want to apply for U.S. or Chilean benefits:
- Visit or write any U.S. Social Security office.
- Phone our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. any business day. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
- Complete SSA-2490-BK (Application for Benefits Under a U.S. International Social Security Agreement) and mail to your local Social Security Administration office.
If you live in Chile and wish to apply for U.S. or Chilean benefits, contact:
Federal Benefits Unit
United States Embassy
Calle 120 Avenida 0
Pavas 1200
San Jose
COSTA RICA - Any Chilean social security office to file for U.S. or Chilean benefits.
You can apply in one country and ask to have your application considered as a claim for benefits from the other country. They will send information from your application to the other country. Each country will process the claim under its own laws count credits from the other country when appropriate, and notify you of its decision.
If you have not applied for benefits before, you may need to provide certain information and documents when you apply. This includes:
- The worker’s U.S. Social Security number.
- The Chilean registration number for social insurance and the Chilean RUT.
- Proof of age for all claimants.
- Evidence of the worker’s U.S. earnings in the past 24 months.
- Information about the worker’s coverage under the Chilean system.
You may wish to call the social security office before you go there to see if you need to provide any other information.
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
Payment of benefits
Each country pays its own benefit. The U.S. Department of the Treasury makes U.S. payments each month and covers benefits for the preceding month. Under the old Chilean system, the Instituto de Normalización Previsional makes payments in the middle of each month and covers benefits for the current month. Under the new Chilean system, one of the pension fund administrators makes payments near the end of the month and covers benefits for the preceding month. For more information, contact the Chilean authorities at the address in the section titled, “For more information.”
Return to Totalization Agreements overview
For more information about Chile's social security programs
For more information about Chile’s social security programs, write to:
Old Pension System:
Superintendencia de Seguridad Social
Huérfanos 1376, 6° piso,
Santiago
CHILE
New Pension System:
Superintendencia de Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones
Huérfanos 1273, 2° piso,
Santiago
CHILE
Internet: https://www.ips.gob.cl/inicio