The Social Security disability program is really a government-sponsored disability insurance program. You get it by working and having FICA taxes deducted from your pay. However, you are not immediately insured when you begin working and you may stop being insured if you stop working.
A "quarter of coverage" is the basic unit used to determine whether a worker is insured under the Social Security disability program, or Title II.
So, what is a "quarter of coverage"? You will hear these informally called "Social Security credits," too.
Until 1978, a "quarter of coverage" was awarded to workers who earned $50 or more in a calendar quarter. After 1978, the amount of wages required to earn one quarter of coverage changed automatically each year based on the National Average Wage Index.
In 2015 you must earn at least $1,220 in a quarter to receive one quarter of coverage. However, you cannot earn more than four quarters of coverage per year, no matter how much you earn.
To be insured, most workers need at least 20 quarters of coverage during the last 10 years. Sometimes we use the rule of thumb that says, "You should have worked at least 5 out of the previous 10 years." That can vary based on your age.
Generally, if a person stops working prior to becoming "fully insured," disabled or retired, he or she will lose insured status after about 4 years of stopping work.
Usually when a person receives 40 quarters of coverage he or she becomes "fully insured" and permanently insured. This means they will not lose Social Security disability insurance if they stop working after they have become fully insured.
In 2014, there were 151,092,000 workers covered by Social Security disability insurance (Title II).
A "quarter of coverage" is the basic unit used to determine whether a worker is insured under the Social Security disability program, or Title II.
So, what is a "quarter of coverage"? You will hear these informally called "Social Security credits," too.
Until 1978, a "quarter of coverage" was awarded to workers who earned $50 or more in a calendar quarter. After 1978, the amount of wages required to earn one quarter of coverage changed automatically each year based on the National Average Wage Index.
In 2015 you must earn at least $1,220 in a quarter to receive one quarter of coverage. However, you cannot earn more than four quarters of coverage per year, no matter how much you earn.
To be insured, most workers need at least 20 quarters of coverage during the last 10 years. Sometimes we use the rule of thumb that says, "You should have worked at least 5 out of the previous 10 years." That can vary based on your age.
Generally, if a person stops working prior to becoming "fully insured," disabled or retired, he or she will lose insured status after about 4 years of stopping work.
Usually when a person receives 40 quarters of coverage he or she becomes "fully insured" and permanently insured. This means they will not lose Social Security disability insurance if they stop working after they have become fully insured.
In 2014, there were 151,092,000 workers covered by Social Security disability insurance (Title II).
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