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TANF MANUAL SECTION 305 DETERMINATION OF SSA APPENDIX 4 QUALIFYING QUARTERS 2/09 Page 1

SSA Quarters of Coverage Verification Procedures for Aliens

For aliens sponsored pursuant to the "Affidavit of Support Under Section 213 of the Act," the sponsor's obligation terminates if the alien has worked or can be credited with 40 quarters of qualified work. This appendix, in conjunction with the State Verification Exchange System (SVES) User Guide, contains the process for determining the number of qualifying quarters with which an alien can be credited.

To determine the number of quarters available to an eligible alien unit member, the EW must obtain answers to the following questions:

1. How many years has the applicant, the applicant's spouse, or the applicant's parents (before the applicant turned 18) lived in this country?

2. How many years has the applicant, the applicant's spouse, or the applicant's parents (before the applicant turned 18) commuted to work in the U.S. from another country before coming to the U.S. to live, or worked abroad for a U.S. company or in self- employment while a legal resident of the U.S.?

(If the total number of years to both questions is less than 10 years, the agency does not need to ask question 3 because the 40-quarter standard cannot be met.)

3. In how many of the years reported in answer to question 1, did the applicant, the applicant's spouse, or the applicant's parent earn money through work?

(To determine whether the applicant's earnings were sufficient to establish "quarters of coverage" in those years, the agency should refer to the income chart included in this appendix.)

If the answer to question 3 is 10 years or more, the EW must verify, from USCIS documents or other documents, the date of entry into the country for the applicant, spouse and/or parent. If the dates are consistent with having 10 or more years of work, an inquiry through SVES must be made.

TANF Transmittal 40