Department of Human Services: Chapter 7: Section 7.9.3

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TANF

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Four quarters in each year can be credited to the applicant based on his/her own work history. In addition, up to four years can also be credited to the applicant based on the work history from each parent and spouse.

Example

Mr. Ling is applying for FS. He is a 22-year-old LPR who has lived in the United States since he was ten. Both of his parents worked when he was a child. In addition to the quarters he accrued based on his own earnings (up to four per year), Mr. Ling can earn up to four quarters in any year that his father worked and an additional four quarters in any year that his mother worked while Mr. Ling was a minor. In 1985, both of Mr. Ling's parents worked. Mr. Ling’s father earned 4 quarters in 1985. Mr. Ling’s mother earned 3 quarters. Mr. Ling himself did not work in 1985. Thus, Mr. Ling is credited with 7 qualifying quarters in 1985.

In general, the SSR will receive information about qualifying quarters through the ACEDS interface with the SSA's Quarters of Coverage History System (QCHS). This system will provide an array by year, beginning in 1937, of all qualifying quarters derived from work covered by the Social Security Act and, beginning in 1978, all creditable non-covered earnings. Beginning in 1978, the number of quarters an individual earns is based on annual earnings, not on the number of quarters within the calendar year in which the individual actually was employed.

Step 1:

The SSR should always credit the applicant's own quarters first. This will simplify verification because many applicants will have sufficient quarters from their own record and it will not be necessary to request a QQ History for other relatives.

If the interview process clearly shows that the applicant meets the 40-quarters exception, request verification using the 40 QQ History ACEDS interface.
If the interview process shows the applicant may meet the 40-quarters exception, request verification using the 40 QQ History ACEDS interface.
If the interview process shows that the applicant will not meet the 40-quarters exception but the applicant still believes s/he meets this requirement, request verification using the 40 QQ History ACEDS interface.

Step 2:

If the applicant does not have 40 qualifying quarters based on his/her earnings alone, the SSR must determine if the applicant's parent(s) or spouse have qualifying quarters that can be credited to the applicant. If the applicant has a parent(s) that lived and worked in the United States while the applicant was a minor or if the applicant is married or has a former spouse (and the marriage ended by death) who lived and worked in the U.S. while the applicant was married to the individual, additional quarters based on these individuals' earnings may be credited toward the applicant.

Establish the necessary relationship to the applicant. Relationship must be established before the SSR may request a QQ History through the ACEDS interface.
Obtain a complete Consent for Release of Information, Form SSA-3288 (see Exhibit IV-3: SSA-3288), from the parent(s) or spouse of the applicant. The Consent for Release of Information must be completed and signed by the parent or spouse of the applicant (unless the individual is deceased) even if they are difficult to contact.

The parent/spouse must indicate on the Form SSA-3288 that the request authorizes release of his/her SSN, identifying information, information about benefit payments, and other QCHS. Additionally, the parent/spouse must state his/her relationship to the applicant and sign and date the form.

This form is necessary because these records are protected by the Privacy Act. The SSR should indicate that the information can be released to both the Department and the applicant.

The signed consent form must be retained in the case file. SSA may need to review this documentation as part of a Quality Control Review or if a question is raised.

If an individual refuses to cooperate and will not complete Form SSA-3288 or the individual cannot be located to complete the form the SSR cannot use the automated system. However, the SSA will provide information about such individuals to the Department. See Step 4 below.

Step 3:

If the consent form has been signed, request a QQ History through the ACEDS interface. If the consent form has not been signed, submit the SSA-513 to SSA (see Exhibit IV-5: SSA-513).

Step 4:

If a consent form cannot be obtained from a spouse or parent of an applicant, the SSR should fill out the SSA-513 'Request for Quarters of Coverage (QC) History Based on Relationship' Form (see Exhibit IV-5: SSA-513). This form must indicate the individual on which information is being requested (that is, the spouse or parent of the applicant), that individual's SSN, date of birth, and relationship to the applicant. In addition, the SSR must indicate on the form the years (and quarters) for which the individual's work history can count toward the applicant's 40-quarter requirement. SSA will return the form with information about the QQ the individual earned during the relevant period.

Example

Mrs. Santos and her two children are applying for FS. Mrs. Santos is a LPR who came to the United States in 1988. Mrs. Santos' children are U.S. citizens. Mrs. Santos has 20 qualifying quarters based on her own earnings. Mrs. Santos is currently married, but her estranged husband who does not live with her refuses to sign a consent form. (The couple is not, however, divorced.) Mrs. Santos was married in June 1990. The SSR should complete an SSA-513 form to submit to the SSA. On the form, the SSR must indicate the years in which Mr. Santos' earnings can be credited toward Mrs. Santos' 40 quarters requirement. Since they were married in the 2nd quarter of 1990, the SSR should indicate that SSA should provide information from the 2nd quarter of 1990 to the most recent quarter for which data are available.

Step 5:

Determine whether any quarters earned by the applicant or his/her parent or spouse must be excluded because the quarter was earned in 1997 or after and the individual received a federal means-tested public benefit during the quarter.

Information about SSI receipt will be provided by SSA as part of the query.
The SSR should check whether the applicant or the applicant’s parent or spouse received FS, TANF, or Medicaid (excluding emergency Medicaid) in the District of Columbia in any quarter counted toward the applicant's 40-quarter requirement that was earned in 1997 or after. If the individual did receive such benefits (excluding emergency Medicaid) in D.C., the quarter must be excluded.
For any quarters earned in or after 1997, the SSR should ask the applicant and, if possible, the other individuals whose quarters are being credited to the applicant, whether any of the following were received by the individuals in any part of the U.S.:
- Medicaid, other than emergency Medicaid;
- TANF cash assistance;
- FS; or
- Housing assistance (living in public housing or receiving a federal rental subsidy such as through the Section 8 or Section 202 housing programs)

The SSR shall accept the attestation of the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant's spouse or parent (when these individuals' quarters are being credited to the applicant). If the SSR is unable to contact the applicant's spouse or parent and quarters earned in or after 1997 are being credited to the applicant, the SSR should ask the applicant if s/he knows whether the parent or spouse received any such benefits. If the applicant does not know or indicates that such benefits were not received, the SSR should credit the quarters toward the applicant.