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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FNS 227 NON-CITIZEN REQUIREMENTS
32 Section 227 Change #1-2026 February 1, 2026 f. Former spouse — only if the marriage ended by death, and only for quarters worked during the marriage
Important Restriction: None of the qualifying quarters earned after December 31, 1996 are counted if the wage earner received any federal means-tested public assistance benefit during the period for which the qualifying quarter is credited. Federal means-tested public benefits include: Work First assistance, Food and Nutrition Services, Medicaid, NC Health Choice, or SSI. C. Assessing QC Status: Obtain sufficient information to determine whether the 40 QC exception may apply. Always credit the non-citizen individual's own quarters first — this simplifies verification because many non-citizens will have sufficient quarters on their own record. 1. Step 1: Establish Relationships Obtain sufficient information to determine that family relationships exist, the date of birth of the non-citizen, and identifying information needed to access the SSA QC History System. 2. Step 2: Determine Feasibility a. Ask how many years the non-citizen and each relevant person have lived in the United States. Add the years together. If the total equals at least 10 years, proceed to Step 3. b. If the total is less than 10 years, ask whether the non-citizen, parents, or spouse ever commuted to work in the U.S. from another country before coming here to live, or worked for a U.S. company overseas and paid U.S. income taxes or FICA taxes. c. If the total is still less than 10 years after adding any commuter/overseas work, STOP. The applicant cannot meet the 40 QC requirement. 3. Step 3: Estimate Qualifying Quarters a. Four quarters in each year can be credited to the non-citizen from each relevant individual. b. Request TPQY verification if information shows the non-citizen may meet the 40 QC exception (with or without lag quarters) D. Making the Determination QC History Data can be accessed in NC FAST through OVS. 1. Review the non-citizen's TPQY response record.