Note that this annotation for Article 7 of the current agreement describes the Norwegian social security system’s old-age, survivors and disability benefits program in effect on September 1, 2003, when the current agreement took effect.  For updated information on these benefits under the current Norwegian social security system, please go to:  https://www.nav.no/en/Home.

Norway provides old-age, survivors, and disability benefits through two separate programs – a basic pension program and a supplementary pension program – which together make up what is usually described as a “two-tier” social security system.  The basic system, or first tier, is a non-earnings related program which pays old-age, survivors and disability benefits to Norwegian residents in proportion to the number of years they have resided in Norway.  (NOTE:  Although coverage under the basic pension system is generally based on residence, persons who are not residents of Norway but who work in Norway also receive coverage credits under the basic system.  Therefore, it should be understood that the residence requirements referred to in the following explanation of the basic pension system can also be met by a nonresident who worked in Norway for the requisite period.)   The supplementary system constitutes the second tier and pays benefits based on the length of a worker’s employment or self-employment and the level of his or her earnings. 

Both the basic and supplementary pensions are determined in relation to the “basic amount” described above in connection with Article 6.2.  This basic amount (approximately $10,802 as of May 2016) is adjusted at least once each year to take account of changes in the general income level.  The various benefits which are based on the basic amount are automatically adjusted whenever the basic amount is increased.

Norwegian old-age pensions are payable at age 67.  To be eligible for basic old-age pension, a person must have resided in Norway for at least 3 years between ages 16 and 67 and (10 be a resident of Norway, or (2) be eligible for a supplementary pension or (3) have at least 20 years of residence in Norway.  To qualify for a supplementary old-age pension, a person must have at least 3 pension point years (i.e., calendar years during which the person paid contributions on earnings which exceeded the average basic amount for the year).

To be eligible for basic survivors benefits, a surviving spouse must reside in Norway and must be under age 67 and meet certain other requirements.  The current-residence requirement is waived if either the surviving or deceased spouse resided in Norway for at least 20 years.  In addition, the deceased spouse must have resided in Norway and been able to work for the last 3 years immediately prior to death or have been receiving a pension for a period of at least 3 years prior to death.  The basic survivors pension can also be paid to a surviving spouse who resides outside Norway if the deceased had credit for at least 3 pension point years.  Surviving children under age 18 (20 if in school and both parents are deceased) can receive a pension if the deceased resided in Norway, or had been receiving a pension, for the last 3 years immediately prior to death.  The surviving spouse and children can also receive a supplementary pension if the worker had credit for at least 3 pension point years.

The basic disability pension is payable to Norwegian residents between ages 18 and 67 whose working capacity is permanently reduced by at least 50 per cent due to illness or injury if they resided in Norway for the last 3 years immediately preceding disability onset.  A supplementary pension can be paid if the worker has been credited with at least 3 pension point years prior to disability onset.  The basic pension is payable as long as the beneficiary continues to reside in Norway or is entitled to a supplementary pension.  The current-residence requirement is waived if the person has been a resident of Norway for at least 20 years.

Under Article 7, Norway will combine (i.e., “totalize”) U.S. coverage with periods of Norwegian coverage in order that persons who do not meet the minimum coverage requirements may become eligible for the basic and supplementary pensions.  Article 7, together with the provisions of Article 4, also provides that Norway will pay basic old-age, disability and survivors benefits to residents of the United States even though Norwegian law normally restricts these benefits to residents of Norway or persons with at least 20 years of prior Norwegian residence.