Page 148

Example Mr. Ling is applying for FS. He is a 22-year-old LPR, who has lived in the United States since he was ten. Both of his parents worked when he was a child. In addition to the quarters he accrued based on his own earnings (up to four per year), Mr. Ling can earn up to four quarters in any year that his father worked and an additional four quarters in any year that his mother worked while Mr. Ling was a minor. In 1985, both of Mr. Ling's parents worked. Mr. Ling’s father earned 4 quarters in 1985. Mr. Ling’s mother earned 3 quarters. Mr. Ling himself did not work in 1985. Thus, Mr. Ling is credited with 7 qualifying quarters in 1985. In general, the SSR will receive information about qualifying quarters through the ACEDS interface with the SSA's Quarters of Coverage History System (QCHS). This system will provide an array by year, beginning in 1937, of all qualifying quarters derived from work covered by the Social Security Act and, beginning in 1978, all creditable non-covered earnings. Beginning in 1978, the number of quarters an individual earns is based on annual earnings, not on the number of quarters within the calendar year in which the individual actually was employed. Step 1: The SSR should always credit the applicant's own quarters first. This will simplify verification because many applicants will have sufficient quarters from their own record, and it will not be necessary to request a QQ History for other relatives. • If the interview process clearly shows that the applicant meets the 40-quarters exception, request verification using the 40 QQ History ACEDS interface. • If the interview process shows the applicant may meet the 40-quarters exception, request verification using the 40 QQ History ACEDS interface. • If the interview process shows that the applicant will not meet the 40-quarters exception, but the applicant still believes s/he meets this requirement, request verification using the 40 QQ History ACEDS interface. Step 2: If the applicant does not have 40 qualifying quarters based on his/her earnings alone, the SSR must determine if the applicant's parent(s) or spouse have qualifying quarters that can be credited to the applicant. If the applicant has a parent(s) that lived and worked in the United States while the applicant was a minor or if the applicant is married or has a former spouse (and the marriage ended by death) who lived and worked in the U.S. while the applicant was married to the individual, additional quarters based on these individuals' earnings may be credited toward the applicant. • Establish the necessary relationship to the applicant. Relationship must be established before the SSR may request a QQ History through the ACEDS interface. • Obtain a complete Consent for Release of Information, Form SSA-3288 (see Exhibit IV-3: SSA-3288), from the parent(s) or spouse of the applicant. The Consent for Release of Information must be completed and signed by the parent or spouse of the applicant (unless the individual is deceased) even if they are difficult to contact. The parent/spouse must indicate on the Form SSA-3288 that the request authorizes release of his/her SSN, identifying information, information about benefit payments, and other QCHS. Additionally, the parent/spouse must state his/her relationship to the applicant and sign and date the form. This form is necessary because these records are protected by the Privacy Act. The SSR should indicate that the information can be released to both the Department and the