The Belgian coverage certification is used to assign foreign (F) quarters of coverage to the earnings record (ER).

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  All periods of coverage certified by Belgium are creditable unless they are already credited as U.S. quarters of coverage.

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

Follow these steps to assign Belgian coverage.

1. 1. 

   Determining the Amount of Coverage Required

   Is the claimant filing for disability benefits on the record?

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     If yes, credit all possible F quarters of coverage (FQCs) to the ER.

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     If no, credit only the number of quarters required for insured status.

2. 2. 

   Determining Maximum FQCs

   Determine the maximum possible number of FQCs as follows:

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     Divide the total number of days of coverage shown for each year of coverage by 78 (the number of days in a calendar quarter) to determine the maximum possible number of FQCs for that year. Any remainder is considered 1 FQC. If coverage has been cartified in quarters, assign 1 FQC for each quarter shown in the Belgian Coverage record.

3. 3. 

   Assigning FQCs to Calendar Quarters

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     Assign FQCs for each year shown on the Belgian coverage certification. Start with the first quarter of the year and continue consecutively until all FQCs are assigned.

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     Do not assign an FQC in a calendar quarter where a U.S. QC is already assigned. When a U.S. QC is assigned within a year of Belgian coverage, credit FQCs up to that quarter and begin again in the next available quarter for the year.

4. 4. 

   Alternate Method of Assigning FQCs to Calendar Quarters

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     Use this method of assigning FQCs if insured status is not met using the previous method and recent coverage is required. (The claim is for disability benefits or currently insured survivors benefits.)

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     Credit coverage following the method in  3 above except assign FQCs starting with the last available calendar quarter of each year and continuing backwards consecutively until all FQCs are assigned.

5. 5. 

   Determining Insured Status

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     After assigning FQCs by one of the methods shown above, determine if insured status is met and process the award or denial.