Clarifying Information
Sponsored immigrants can be exempted from sponsor deeming when they have, or can be credited with, 40 quarters of work under Title II of the Social Security Act. (See WAC 388-450-0156 )
The chart on the SSA website shows the amount of earnings needed to qualify for each SSA work quarter of coverage from 1978 through the present.
When there are 40 or more countable quarters based on verification from SSA, staff must review benefit history to determine whether the earner received federal means-tested benefits – SNAP, TANF, RCA, or Medicaid – during any of the quarters. If so, subtract those quarters from the total to determine whether the 40 quarter requirement has been met.