Basic (12-96)
The Austrian coverage certification is used to assign foreign (F) quarters of coverage to the earnings record (ER).
All periods of coverage certified by Austria are creditable.
The presence of Austrian coverage after onset is not necessarily an indication of work. Development of substantial gainful activity should not be initiated based only on the presence of Austrian coverage.
There is no minimum amount of Austrian coverage which must be earned before the U.S. can use it.
Take the following actions to assign Austrian coverage.
If the claimant is filing for disability benefits on this record, credit all possible F quarters of coverage to the ER.
If the claimant is not filing for disability benefits, credit only the number of quarters required for insured status.
Determine the maximum possible number of FQCs by dividing the number of months of coverage in each insurance period by 3 (the number of months in a calendar quarter). Consider any remainder as 1 FQC.
If there is a '"from-to” period which begins or ends in the same calendar quarter as another '"from-to” period, determine FQCs for each period separately.
Assign FQCs as follows:
Assign FQCs for each period shown on the Austrian coverage certification starting with the calendar quarter in which the period begins and continuing consecutively until all FQCs are assigned.
Do not assign FQCs after the calendar quarter in which the Austrian period ends.
Do not assign an FQC in a calendar quarter where a U.S. QC is already assigned. When a U.S. QC is assigned within an Austrian period, credit FQCs up to that quarter and begin again in the next available quarter.
For years after 1977, assign existing U.S. QCs using the flexible crediting provision so as to permit assigning the maximum number of FQCs. (See RS 00301.230 regarding the assignment of quarters of coverage.)
Do not skip over an FQC that was assigned based on another Austrian period. If FQCs based on separate Austrian periods fall within the same calendar quarter, cancel one of the overlapping FQCs.
If the worker is insured for U.S. totalization benefits after assigning Austrian coverage, process the award (assuming all other entitlement factors are met).
If the worker is still not insured disallow the claim unless it was for disability benefits or for currently insured survivor's benefits.
If the worker is still not insured and the claim is for disability benefits or for survivor benefits which could be paid based on currently insured status, recredit coverage following GN 01730.110.B.4. However, assign FQCs starting with the last available calendar quarter of each period and continuing backwards consecutively until all FQCs are assigned.
If the worker is insured for U.S. totalization benefits after crediting coverage process the award (assuming all other entitlement factors are met).
If the worker is not insured for U.S. totalization benefits after crediting coverage, disallow the claim.
If a disallowance results from possible FQCs that were cancelled because they overlapped, submit the case to DTPS for evaluation.