Permanent Residents can be divided into two categories: those individuals with 40 or more Social Security work quarters (federally funded food stamps) and those without 40 Social Security work quarters (state funded food stamps). The worker must determine if the individual has over or under 40 Social Security work quarters. Individuals with 40 or more work quarters must either have earned those quarters themselves or share a spouse or parent’s work quarters. Work quarters should be reviewed at intake and each recertification.
Family consists of husband, wife and four minor children. Mom, dad and two of the children are resident aliens, the other two children are United States citizens. Work quarter information is requested for both mom and dad. A printout of their respective work quarters is received from the Social Security Office. The husband has 28 work quarters of his own and his wife has 16 work quarters of her own.
Because they are married and the work quarters were earned after the marriage date, they can share each other’s work quarters. The total quarters for each individual in this example is 44. Each individual needs 40 work quarters (earned or shared) to be considered “federally funded” for food stamps and both individuals meet that requirement.
In addition, if the children are permanent residents and under age eighteen, they can share their parents’ quarters and will be considered as meeting the 40 work quarters (federal funds).
Code permanent residents with 40 or more work quarters as “Lawful permanent resident with work quarters” on N-FOCUS.
Code permanent residents without 40 work quarters as “Lawful permanent resident” on N-FOCUS.
(Rev. May 1, 1999)