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

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

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  All periods of coverage certified by Korea are creditable unless a remark on the form KOR-USA 2 brings the creditability into question.

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  Refer any questionable Korean coverage records to CPSI for evaluation.

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  The presence of Korean coverage after disability onset is not necessarily an indication of work. Voluntary contributions are possible after onset. Therefore, development of substantial gainful activity (SGA) should not be initiated based only on the presence of such Korean coverage.

Follow these steps to assign Korean 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:

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

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

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     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 within a Korean period, credit F quarters up to that quarter and begin again in the next available quarter.

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     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.

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     Do not skip over an F quarter that was assigned based on another Korean period. If F quarters based on separate Korean 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 Korean 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 still 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