Verification of SSA Forty (40) Work Quarters

The SSA Quarters of Coverage History System (QCHS) is available for purposes of verifying whether a lawful permanent resident has earned or can receive credit for forty (40) qualifying quarters. If the individual does not have documentation, they cannot participate until verification of forty (40) quarters of work is received from either the SSA or the individual. If the SSA determines that its existing records do not verify that an individual claiming forty (40) credits or quarters has the forty (40) credits or quarters and the individual believes the SSA records are not correct, the SSA will work with the individual to determine whether the additional credits or quarters can be established. The individual should be advised that they have the option of working with the SSA and that if they exercise this option and obtain a statement from the SSA indicating that the number of credits or quarters is under review, they can continue to receive SNAP benefits for up to six (6) additional months from the date of the original determination of insufficient quarters. A. No such qualifying quarter of coverage that is creditable under Title II of the Social Security Act for any period beginning after December 31, 1996, may be credited to a non-citizen if the non- citizen, parent of the non-citizen, or spouse of such non-citizen received any federal means- tested public benefit during the period for which such qualifying quarter of coverage is so credited. B. The local office must evaluate quarters of coverage and receipt of federal means-tested public benefits on a calendar year basis. The local office must first determine the number of quarters creditable in a calendar year, then identify those quarters in which the non-citizen (or the parent(s) or spouse of the non-citizen) received federal means-tested public benefits and then remove those quarters from the number of quarters of coverage earned or credited to the noncitizen in that calendar year. However, if the non-citizen earns the fortieth (40th) quarter of coverage prior to applying for SNAP or any other federal means-tested public benefit in that same quarter, the local office must allow that quarter toward the forty (40) qualifying quarters total. C. Receipt of federal means-tested public benefit shall not include the following: 1. Medical assistance under Title XIX of the Social Security Act (or any successor program to such Title) for care and services that are necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition (as defined in Section 1903(v)(3) of such Act) of the non-citizen involved and are not related to an organ transplant procedure, if the non-citizen involved otherwise meets the eligibility requirement for medical assistance under the State Plan approved under such Title (other than the requirement of the receipt of aid or assistance under Title IV of such Act, supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI of such Act, or a state supplementary payment) 2. Short-term non-cash, in-kind emergency disaster relief. 3. Assistance or benefits under the National School Lunch Act. 4. Assistance or benefits under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. 5. Public health assistance (not including any assistance under Title XIX of the Social Security Act) for immunizations with respect to immunizable diseases and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases whether or not such symptoms are caused by a communicable disease. 6. Payments for foster care and adoption assistance under Parts B and E of Title IV of the Social Security Act for a parent or a child who would, in the absence of Subsection (q), be eligible to have such payments made on the child's behalf under such part, but only if the foster or adoptive parent (or parents) of such child is a qualified alien (as defined in Section 431 of the Social Security Act). 7. Programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crises counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter) specified by the U.S. Attorney General, in the Attorney General's sole and unreviewable discretion after consultation with appropriate federal agencies and departments, that: a. Deliver in-kind services at the community level, including through public or private nonprofit agencies, b. Do not condition the provision of assistance, the amount of assistance provided, or the cost of assistance provided on the individual recipient's income or resources, and, c. Are necessary for the protection of life or safety. 8. Programs of student assistance under Titles IV, V, IX, and X of the Higher Education Act of 1965. 9. Means-tested programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 10. Benefits under the Head Start Act. 11. Benefits under the Workforce Investment Act.