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a. Entered the U.S. or were granted LPR status on or after December 19, 1997; and b. Were sponsored by a person or entity with U.S. citizenship status such a family member, employer, or representative of an academic institution or business owner; and c. Received legally binding affidavit(s) of support from the sponsor (USCIS form 1-864). 2. Eligibility duration – Deeming continues until the non-citizen: a. Attains U.S. citizenship; or b. Can be credited with forty (40) quarters of work as defined under Title II of the Social Security Act, provided that no credit is given for any quarter after December 31, 1996 in which any Federal means tested benefit was received. Federal means tested benefits include, but are not limited to: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), RI Works, Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Low-income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP). (1) Non-citizens may be credited with quarters from their own employment, their spouse's employment, and their parent's employment. (2) Verification of qualifying quarters must be obtained from Social Security Administration records. A written statement, signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury, may be used as temporary verification of quarters worked while awaiting information requested from Social Security. B. Deeming provisions may be waived for a period of one (1) year in certain circumstances for sponsored immigrants. 1. Battery or cruelty – Deeming requirements may be waived when a non-citizen demonstrates that he or she or a child or dependent have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty while in the U.S. by certain persons who were living in the same household. a. The battery must have a substantial connection to the need for Medicaid benefits such as to enable the non-citizen and any children/dependents to: (1) Become self-sufficient following separation from the abuser;