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

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  There is no minimum amount of Brazilian coverage earnings earned before the U.S. can use it.

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  The Social Security Administration (SSA) will credit one quarter of coverage in a calendar year for every 3 months of coverage certified for that year by the National Social Insurance Institute (INSS).

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  All periods of coverage, coded "W" in the "Type of Occupation" column is creditable work related insurance certified by the Brazilian liaison agency the INSS. Do not use insurance periods coded "NW"- non-work related.

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  SSA will not credit months of coverage under Brazilian laws 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 4 quarters of coverage for any calendar year, or consider periods of Brazilian coverage credited prior to 1937 (the earliest day, which U.S. law permits crediting periods of coverage).

Follow these steps to assign Brazilian 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" quarter 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 Brazilian coverage certification record starting with the calendar quarter in which the period begins and continuing consecutively until all foreign quarters are assigned;

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     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 Brazilian period, do not give a foreign quarter for that period. Begin assigning foreign quarters again in the next available quarter.

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     For the years after 1977, assign existing U.S. quarters using 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 Brazilian period. If foreign quarters based on separate Brazilian periods 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 assigning Brazilian 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 01758.110B step 5, 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 is not insured for U.S. totalization benefits after crediting coverage, deny the claim.

RS 00301.230 Assignment of Quarters of Coverage