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129 | P a g e October 25 the three categories for exception, must meet one of the following 'Special LIHEAP Criteria' to be determined an 'eligible alien'. 1. 'Qualified Alien' and 5 years of residence- effective April 1, 2003, an alien who has lived in the U.S. as a 'qualified alien' for a period of five years or longer from the date of entry such as a LAPR, parolee, conditional entry, or battered. 2. Amerasian Immigrant - an alien admitted to the U.S. as an Amerasian immigrant pursuant to Section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988. 3. Military connection - an alien who meets one of the following: a) A veteran, as defined by 38 U.S.C. §101, with an honorable discharge for reasons other than alien status who fulfilled minimum active-duty requirements. b) NOTE: Acceptable documentation of veteran status is the original copy of the veteran's discharge papers issued by the branch of service the alien was a member. If there has been more than one discharge, the most recent one will be the only one used to determine if this requirement has been met. i. On active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (other than for training); or ii. NOTE: Acceptable documentation of active military status is the original copy of the aliens’ current orders posting the alien to a military base. iii. The spouse and unmarried dependent children (age 18 or younger) of the alien veteran in (a) or (b) above, or the unmarried surviving spouse of a deceased alien veteran. An unmarried dependent child is a child under age 18, or if a full-time student, under age 22. 4. Child - a child currently under 18 years of age who is lawfully residing in the U.S. 5. Disabled - an alien receiving benefits or assistance for blindness or disability and lawfully is residing in the U.S. 6. Aged - an alien lawfully residing in the U.S. on August 22, 1996, and who was born on or before August 22, 1931; or 7. Lawfully Admitted to the United States for Permanent Residence (LAPR) and 40 work quarters - a LAPR who also meets 40 quarters of work criteria. This requirement is for those individuals who have not resided in the U.S. as a LAPR, parolee, conditional entry, or battered for 5 years or more prior to submitting a LIHEAP application-see # 1. a) The individual must provide proof of earnings of 10 years or more with employer statements, income tax forms, wage stubs, etc., or obtain verification by requesting the information from the regional Social Security Administration (SSA) office. The eligibility staff member can access Montana's State Verification and Exchange System (SVES) interface with SSA to establish the 40 quarters of work for the LAPR 'qualified alien'.