Right now, Palauan citizens who are eligible to receive Social Security benefits may receive them while residing outside of the United States. However, Palauan citizens receiving dependent or survivor benefits may not be eligible to receive such payments. In this type of situation, the beneficiary must have lived in the United States for at least five years, during which time the relationship giving rise to the dependent or survivor benefit eligibility must have existed.
Gibson Kanai says, ‘the U.S. currently has full Social Security agreements with approximately 20 nations, which allows citizens of those nations who worked in the U.S. or who otherwise are eligible for social security benefits to receive them in full while residing outside of the U.S.’ The resolution also states that many Palauans have worked in the U.S. and served in the U.S. armed forces and their dependents and survivors, however, are ineligible for multiple benefits that they could otherwise receive if they receive dependent or survivor benefits due to Palau’s Social Security agreements with the United States.Kanai offers that since Palau has initiated negotiations on the Compact of Free Association with the United States, ‘the timing is right that we should encourage the President to bring this issue to the table as part of the ongoing discussions.’The measure is now before the appropriate Committee on Foreign Relations and State Affairs Chaired by Delegate Rebluud Kesolei for further review before it comes back to the floor of the House for adoption.
