The social security agreement between Romania and the United States took effect on 1 September 2026. The change is important for Romanians who have legally worked in both countries: insurance periods in Romania and the US can be taken into account together when needed to meet the minimum requirements for a pension.
This does not mean a single pension paid by two countries, nor does it involve transferring contributions from one system to the other. Each country determines and pays its own benefit under its own laws. The agreement is particularly helpful to people who have not accumulated enough contribution periods in either country on their own to qualify for a pension.
What changes from 1 September 2026
The National Public Pension House (CNPP) confirms that the agreement and the administrative arrangement for its implementation are in force. The document applies to people who are or have been insured in Romania, the United States or both systems, as well as, where applicable, people whose rights derive from them, such as survivors.
For more information about Romania, see Diesel excise duty falls by 20% from today: how much cheaper diesel could become at the pump in Romania, which provides complementary details on this subject.
In practice, the agreement has two major effects:
- aggregation of insurance periods to establish entitlement to a pension, where necessary;
- avoidance of double social insurance coverage in certain situations involving temporary cross-border work.
The first element is the one of greatest interest to most future pensioners. If a person does not independently meet the minimum requirements in Romania, the Romanian institution may, within the limits of the agreement, take into account periods certified by US authorities. The rule also works in reverse: the US Social Security Administration (SSA) may take Romanian periods into account for a US benefit, provided that the specific conditions of the US system are met.
Combining work years does not mean one pension payment
This is the essential distinction. The agreement makes it easier to establish entitlement; it does not merge pension budgets or turn contributions made in one country into contributions paid in the other.
Each institution calculates the portion for which it is responsible under its own legislation. If a person qualifies for benefits under both systems, they may receive separate payments: one from Romania and one from the US. The amount is not determined simply by adding salaries or contributions from the two countries.
For example, a person with contribution periods in Romania and the US who would not meet the conditions for a Romanian pension on the basis of their Romanian record alone may ask for their US periods to be certified and taken into account in determining eligibility. Romania then calculates the benefit in proportion to the periods completed in its own system. The same principle applies, under US legislation, to the benefit determined by the SSA.
The agreement states that Romania may count three months of insurance for each US-certified quarter of coverage, without overlapping with months already recognised by the Romanian system and without exceeding 12 months in a calendar year. For a US benefit based on totalisation, the claimant must have at least six quarters of coverage in the United States—normally the equivalent of one and a half years of work covered by the US system.
Types of benefits covered
In Romania, the agreement concerns pensions and death grants in the public pension system. In the United States, it covers the federal old-age, survivors and disability insurance programme administered by the SSA.
Accordingly, the practical benefit may apply to:
- old-age pensions;
- disability pensions, subject to the conditions of each system;
- survivors’ pensions;
- death grants or a lump-sum payment in the event of death, strictly under the conditions set out in each country’s legislation.
The agreement does not replace domestic rules on the standard retirement age, the minimum contribution period, calculation methods, required documents or special conditions for disability and survivors. It should also not be confused with ordinary health insurance and, as a general rule, does not cover all social programmes available in the US or Romania.
Work periods completed before 1 September 2026 may count
Yes. The agreement specifies that insurance periods and other relevant events occurring before its entry into force may be taken into account when determining entitlement. This is important for people who worked in the US years ago and later returned to Romania.
However, there is an important transitional limit: the agreement does not create entitlement to payment of a benefit for a period before 1 September 2026. In other words, earlier work history may help meet the requirements, but it should not automatically be assumed that payments will be granted retroactively for periods before the agreement took effect. The date of the application and the rules of each system remain relevant.
Another rule is that overlapping periods are not counted twice. Someone whose activity was covered by both systems at the same time cannot turn the same month into two months of contribution coverage in order to qualify sooner.
Where to apply if you live in Romania
People whose domicile or habitual residence is in Romania should contact the relevant territorial pension office. The CNPP is Romania’s liaison body for implementing the agreement, while territorial offices process benefit applications.
Applicants should state explicitly that they worked in the United States and provide as much accurate information as possible about their periods of employment: employers, dates of work, identification details used in the US and any documents they hold. The institutions can communicate directly to verify insurance periods.
A written application for a benefit filed in one country may, under certain conditions, also be treated as an application for a similar benefit in the other country. This is possible if the applicant expressly requests it or provides information showing they had insurance periods in the other country, and does not limit the application solely to the system in which it is filed.
Documents used in applying the agreement cannot be rejected solely because they are written in Romanian or English. The agreement also provides that documents are exempt from diplomatic or consular authentication requirements, and that copies certified by a competent institution may be accepted by the institution in the other country. However, the institution handling the case may request additional evidence where necessary.
What to do if you live in the US
Romanians habitually resident in the United States can contact a local SSA office. For entitlements under Romania’s public system, the CNPP has published separate forms for old-age or early retirement pensions, survivors’ pensions and disability pensions: USA/RO 202, USA/RO 203 and USA/RO 204.
Forms and procedures should be checked before filing on the official CNPP page on implementing the agreement with the US. For the US side, information on coverage conditions and benefits is published by the Social Security Administration.
New rules for posted workers and self-employed people
The agreement is relevant not only at retirement. It also establishes the general rule that an employee or self-employed worker is subject to the social security legislation of the country where they carry out their work.
There are, however, exceptions for temporary postings. An employee sent by an employer that normally carries out substantial business in one country to the other country may remain insured only under the system of the home country if the posting does not exceed five years. A comparable rule applies to self-employed workers who temporarily move to carry out similar work, also for a maximum period of five years.
In these situations, the person, employer or self-employed worker must request the certificate proving the applicable legislation. The certificate is the document confirming the exception from compulsory coverage in the other country. This is not a formality to overlook: without clarification of the applicable status, issues may arise regarding social contributions.
What not to assume before filing an application
- Not every period spent in the US is an insurance period. What matters is work for which income and contributions were recognised by the US system.
- Not everyone will automatically receive two pensions. Entitlement and the amount are determined separately by the competent institutions.
- Aggregation does not remove all domestic requirements. Age, the type of benefit, documents and other requirements remain those set by the applicable law.
- There is no standard amount. The amount depends on recognised periods and the calculation rules in each system.
- You do not need to choose between Romania and the US. A correctly drafted application may trigger an assessment of rights in both systems, but each authority issues its own decision.
For Romanians who have divided their careers between the two countries, the agreement in force since 1 September 2026 closes an important administrative gap. The most prudent step is to check the periods recorded in each system before retirement approaches and file the application with the competent institution in the country of residence. In long-term planning, the public pension is only one possible source of income; it is also worth considering the need for additional savings, as we explain in our article on additional income for retirement.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Romania-US social security agreement apply?
The agreement took effect on 1 September 2026, together with the administrative arrangement for its implementation.
Can I combine work years in Romania and the US for a pension?
Yes. Insurance periods can be aggregated when necessary to meet the conditions for a pension. Overlapping periods are not counted twice.
Will I receive one pension after the periods are combined?
No. Each country separately determines and pays the benefit under its own system. Aggregation helps establish entitlement; it does not merge pensions into a single payment.
Where do I apply if I live in Romania?
The application is filed with the relevant territorial pension office. It is important to declare insurance periods completed in the United States.
Do US work periods completed before 1 September 2026 count?
Yes, they may be taken into account in determining entitlement. However, the agreement does not automatically create payment entitlements for periods before the date it took effect.
