Use the Czech Republic certified coverage record to assign foreign “F” quarters of coverage to the U.S. coverage record.

• •

  There is no minimum amount of Czech coverage earned before the U.S. can use it.

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  SSA will credit one quarter of coverage in a calendar year for every 90 days of coverage certified for that year by CSSZ.

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  All periods of coverage certified by CSSZ are creditable unless they are “Substitute Periods” – do not use these periods of coverage.

Follow these steps to assign Czech coverage:

1. 1. 

   If the claimant is filing for disability benefits, credit all possible foreign quarters of coverage to the U.S. record.

2. 2. 

   If the claimant is filing for retirement or survivor benefits, credit only the number of quarters required for insured status.

3. 3. 

   To determine the maximum possible number of Foreign quarters of coverage, divide the number of months in each insurance period by 3 (the number of months in a quarter). Consider any remainder as one foreign quarter.

4. 4. 

   If there is a “FROM” – “TO” period that begins or ends in the same calendar quarter as another “FROM” – “TO” period, determine the number of F quarters for each period separately.

5. 5. 

   Assign Foreign quarters as follows:

   • •

     Assign F quarters for each creditable period shown on the Czech coverage certification starting with the calendar quarter in which the period begins and continuing consecutively until all foreign quarters are assigned.

   • •

     Do not assign a foreign quarter in a calendar quarter where a U.S. quarter is already assigned. When a U.S. quarter is assigned with a Czech period, credit foreign quarters up to that quarter and begin again in the next available quarter.

   • •

     For years after 1977, assign existing U.S. quarters using the flexible crediting provision to permit assigning the maximum number of foreign quarters.

   • •

     Do not skip over a foreign quarter assigned based on another Czech period. If foreign quarters based on separate Czech periods fall with the same calendar quarter, cancel one of the overlapping foreign quarters.

6. 6. 

   Process the award (assuming all other entitlement factors are met) if the worker is insured for U.S. totalization benefits after assigning Czech coverage.

7. 7. 

   If the worker is not insured based on combined coverage and the claim is for disability benefits or for survivor benefits paid based on currently insured status, re-credit the foreign coverage. Follow step 4, except assign foreign quarters starting with the last available quarter of each period and continuing backwards consecutively until all foreign quarters are assigned.

8. 8. 

   If the worker is not insured for U.S. totalization benefits after crediting coverage follow step 6, deny the claim.

RS 00301.230, Assignment of Quarters of Coverage