WHAT DOES SOCIAL SECURITY MEAN BY "INSURED STATUS"?

Only workers are covered by Social Security disability insurance (SSDI).  The chart below shows the earnings required in one quarter to receive credit for "one quarter of coverage" (QC).

Insured status simply means that you have worked long enough and recently enough to be covered by the Social Security disability program.

The minimum required QCs is 6.  Then, you generally need one QC per year after you turn 21.

Social Security no longer routinely sends out letters telling you about your insured status.  But you can get this information by calling your local Social Security office.

In Huntsville, call 1-866-593-0665.
In Decatur, the number is 1-888-289-9185.

Amount of earnings needed to earn one quarter of coverage

Year Earnings 1978 $250 1979 260 1980 290 1981 310 1982 340 1983 370 1984 390 1985 410 1986 440 1987 460 1988 470 1989 500 1990 520 1991 540 1992 570

Year Earnings 1993 $590 1994 620 1995 630 1996 640 1997 670 1998 700 1999 740 2000 780 2001 830 2002 870 2003 890 2004 900 2005 920 2006 970 2007 1,000

Year Earnings 2008 $1,050 2009 1,090 2010 1,120 2011 1,120 2012 1,130 2013 1,160 2014 1,200 2015 1,220 2016 1,260 2017 1,300