Basic (12-08)

GN 01748.110 How to Credit Danish Coverage

A. Policy

Use the Danish coverage certification to assign foreign (F) quarters of coverage to U.S. coverage record.

  • All QCs can be used based on the date agreement goes into effect.

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

  • All periods of coverage certified by Denmark are creditable unless they are:

    Cash unemployment benefits (code 600)

    Cash sickness benefits from municipality (code 610)

B. Procedure

Follow these steps to assign Danish 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. 

    SSA will credit one U.S. QC for every 3 months or remaining fraction of Danish coverage (any fraction of a quarter will count as one full quarter) in a calendar year. (Danish coverage is measured in months). The total number of U.S. and Foreign quarters can never exceed 4 for one year.

  4. 4. 

    F Quarters are assigned as follows:

    • QCs start with the first quarter of each year.

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

    • 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 a Danish 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 Danish period. If (F) quarters based on separate Danish periods fall with the same calendar quarter, cancel one of the overlapping (F) quarters.

  5. 5. 

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

  6. 6. 

    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 4, except assign (F) quarters starting with the last available quarter of each period and continuing backwards consecutively until all (F) quarters are assigned.

  7. 7. 

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


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201748110
GN 01748.110 - How to Credit Danish Coverage - 12/17/2008
Batch run: 10/17/2016
Rev:12/17/2008