Page 147

death of step-parent): Use only the quarters earned while the relationship was in existence and the applicant was under age 18. The stepparent's relationship to the child is based on the marital relationship to the child’s parent. If the marital relationship ends other than by death, the relationship also ends; applicant's Current Spouse: Use only the quarters earned during the marital relationship; and applicant's Former Spouse (but only if the marriage ended by death): Use only the quarters earned during the marriage.

Determining Whether Applicant Could Have Met 40-Quarter Requirement 7.9.2 MA N/A TANF N/A GC N/A FS In some cases, the applicant will not have been in the U.S. long enough to have met the 40 qualifying quarter requirement. To determine if it is possible that the applicant could meet the 40 qualifying quarter criteria, the SSR should complete the following two steps. Step 1: Ask how many years the applicant and each of the relevant individuals (those individuals whose qualifying quarters may count toward the applicant’s 40-quarter requirement) has lived in this country. Step 2: Add the number of years for each together. • If the totals equal at least ten years, the individual could meet the 40-quarter requirement and the SSR should proceed to verify his/her qualifying quarters. • If the total is less than ten years, ask whether the applicant, his/her parents, or his/her spouse ever commuted to work in the U.S. from another country (e.g., Canada or Mexico) before coming here to live or, if a legal resident of the U.S., worked for a U.S. company overseas or in self-employment. o If 'Yes,' determine the number of years and add them to the total. o If the total is at least ten, the individual could meet the 40-quarter requirement and the SSR should proceed to verify his/her qualifying quarters. o If the total is less than ten, do not proceed any further. The applicant cannot meet the 40-quarter requirement.

Determining Qualifying Quarters (QQ) 7.9.3 MA N/A TANF N/A GC N/A FS Four quarters in each year can be credited to the applicant based on his/her own work history. In addition, up to four years can also be credited to the applicant based on the work history from each parent and spouse.