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

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  There is no minimum amount of Hungarian coverage which must be 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 ninety days of coverage certified for that year by the Hungarian liaison agency.

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  All periods of coverage coded “W” in the Type of Occupation column are creditable work-related insurance certified by the Hungarian liaison agency. Do not use insurance periods coded “NW” – non-work related.

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  SSA will not credit months of coverage under Hungary’s insurance system that fall within a calendar quarter that SSA already credited as a U.S. quarter of coverage.

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  SSA will also not credit more than four quarters of coverage for any calendar year, or consider periods of Hungarian coverage credited prior to 1937, (the earliest date for which U.S. law permits crediting periods of coverage).

Follow these steps to assign Hungarian 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 (“F”) of coverage, divide the number of months in each insurance period by 3 (the number of months in a quarter). Consider any remainder of one foreign quarter.

4. 4. 

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

5. 5. 

   Assign Foreign quarters as follows:

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     Assign “F” quarters for each creditable period shown on the Hungarian coverage certification record 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 in the same period with a Hungarian period, do not give a foreign quarter for that period. Begin assigning foreign quarters again in the next available quarter.

   • •

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

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     Do not skip over a foreign quarter assigned based on another period of Hungarian coverage. If foreign quarters based on separate periods of Hungarian coverage 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 crediting Hungarian 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 GN 01756.110B 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 does not meet insured status for U.S. totalization benefits after crediting coverage, deny the claim.

RS 00301.230 - Assignment of Quarters of Coverage