The Australian coverage certification is used to assign foreign (F) quarters of coverage to the U.S. coverage record.

There is no minimum amount of Australian coverage that must be earned before the U.S. can use it.

Australia will certify periods of residence in Australia during which the claimant worked. These will be referred to as “working life residence” periods.

All periods of coverage certified by Australia are creditable.

Refer any questionable Australian coverage records to CPS-I for evaluation.

Follow these steps to assign Australian coverage:

1. 1. 

   If the claimant is filing for disability benefits, credit all possible F 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 F 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 1 F 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 F quarters as follows:

   • •

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

   • •

     Do not assign F quarters after the calendar quarter in which the Australian period ends.

   • •

     Do not assign an F quarter in a calendar quarter where a U.S. quarter is already assigned. When a U.S. quarter is assigned with an Australian period, credit F 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 so as to permit assigning the maximum number of F quarters.

   • •

     Do not skip over an F quarter that was assigned based on another Australian period. If F quarters based on separate Australian periods fall within the same calendar quarter, cancel one of the overlapping F quarters.

6. 6. 

   If the worker is insured for U.S. totalization benefits after assigning Australian coverage, process the award (assuming all other entitlement factors are met).

7. 7. 

   If the worker is not insured based on combined coverage and the claim is for disability benefits or for survivor benefits that could be paid based on currently insured status, recredit the foreign coverage. Follow step 5, except assign F quarters starting with the last available calendar quarter of each period and continuing backwards consecutively until all F quarters are assigned.

8. 8. 

   If the worker is not insured for U.S. totalization benefits after crediting coverage following step 7, deny the claim.

Flexible Assignment of Quarters of Coverage, RS 00301.230