Article 7.1(a) describes how periods of U.S. and Norwegian coverage will be combined to determine eligibility for Norwegian Totalization benefits under both the basic and supplementary pension programs.  It stipulates that where a person has completed at least 3 years of Norwegian coverage or one year while working in Norway (i.e., in general, 3 years of residence in Norway or one pension point year), Norway will add U.S. quarters of coverage to the person’s Norwegian coverage in determining whether the person meets the minimum requirements for basic and supplementary benefits.  However, Norway will not count quarters of coverage which coincide with periods of coverage already credited under Norwegian laws. 

This provision represents a change from the original agreement for persons who do not have at least one pension point year.  Under the original agreement, such persons could qualify for Norwegian Totalization benefits if they had one year of Norwegian residence.  Now they will need 3 years of Norwegian residence.  The change corresponds to Norway’s more recent social security agreements.