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to LPR status. Refer to Sections 2402.20.05.05 (SNAP) and 2402.20.15 (RCA/TANF) concerning eligibility of refugees.

A lawful permanent resident may be considered an eligible AG member for SNAP if one or more of the following conditions apply: • The individual has 40 Qualifying Quarters of employment or could be credited with such Qualifying Quarters of employment (See Sections 2402.20.05.10 through 2402.20.05.20 for instructions about how to calculate Qualifying Quarters. • The individual has legally resided in the U.S. for 5 years (Policy Effective 4/1/03). • The individual is a veteran with an honorable discharge for reasons other than alienage. • The individual is the spouse or dependent of a person who has 40 qualifying quarters or is a veteran with an honorable discharge and lives with that person. • The individual is a child under age 18 legally residing in the U.S. (Policy Effective 10/1/03). • On or after 11/1/98, the individual had LPR status on 8/22/96 and was age 65 or older at that time; or • The individual is blind or disabled based upon criteria in IPPM 3210.10.25.05. • The individual is admitted to the United States as an Amerasian immigrant. • The individual is an American Indian born abroad • The individual is a Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal member

Lawful Permanent Residents who were in the country prior to 8/22/96 may receive benefits if the LPR has 40 qualifying quarters of employment or can be credited with such qualifying quarters of employment. (Refer to Sections 2020.20.05.05 through 2402.20.05.15 regarding determining 40 quarters). LPRs who were receiving SNAP as of 8/22/96 did not have to meet the 40-quarter requirement until their first redetermination or verification of quarters worked subsequent to April 1, 1997, but no later than January 31, 1998.

A qualifying quarter may include time worked by a parent of an alien while the alien was under 18 and a quarter worked by a spouse during their marriage if the alien remains married to the spouse or the spouse is deceased.

A qualifying quarter belonging to a parent(s) may be credited to the parent, the parent's spouse and to one or more children.

In addition, a lawful permanent alien of any age can be credited with qualifying quarters earned by a parent through the quarter the alien attains age 18, whether the parent(s) is currently living.

EXAMPLE:

A lawful permanent resident couple and their two children, who are also lawful permanent residents, (one age 12 and the other age 23) all apply for SNAP. Each member of the couple has earned 20 qualifying quarters for work done more than 5 years earlier, before the older child turned age 18. All four applicants meet the 40 qualifying quarter’s eligibility requirements based on the couple's combined 40 qualifying quarters.

Spouses cannot get credit for quarters of a spouse when the couple divorces prior to a determination of SNAP eligibility. However, if eligibility is determined based on the quarters of