Citizenship and Alien Status - Work Quarters
Revised July 8, 2025
Purpose:
WAC 388-424-0008 Citizenship and alien status - Work Quarters
Clarifying Information
Sponsored immigrants can be exempted from sponsor deeming when they have, or can be credited with, 40 quarters of work under Title II of the Social Security Act. (See WAC 388-450-0156)
The chart on the SSA website shows the amount of earnings needed to qualify for each SSA work quarter of coverage from 1978 through the present.
When there are 40 or more countable quarters based on verification from SSA, staff must review benefit history to determine whether the earner received federal means-tested benefits – SNAP, TANF, RCA, or Medicaid – during any of the quarters. If so, subtract those quarters from the total to determine whether the 40 quarter requirement has been met.
Example: Anya is credited with 42 SSA work quarters. Anya received federal Medicaid during 4 of the credited work quarters. This means she has 38 qualifying work quarters which is not enough to qualify for an exemption from sponsor deeming. At the next application or review, staff should request SSA work quarters to see if the number of qualifying quarters has increased. Individuals who don’t meet the 40 qualifying work quarters requirement initially, may meet it in the future.
Example: Anya reapplies for benefits two year later and is credited with 48 SSA work quarters. Anya received federal Medicaid during 4 of the credited work quarters. This means she has 44 qualifying work quarters which is enough to qualify for a permanent exemption from sponsor deeming.