BASIC (11-81)

4200. INSURED STATUS—GENERAL

A person is fully insured for benefits if he has earned one quarter of coverage for each calendar year elapsing after 1950 (or after the year in which he attains age 21, if later) and before the year in which he reaches age 62, or dies, whichever occurs first.

An explanation of a quarter of coverage is given on (a) or (b) of the enclosed publication.

(a)

page       

(b)

pages        and       

NOTE TO TYPIST: Enclose SSA Publication No. 78-10035 (or current revision).

4205. INSURED STATUS—SPECIFIC

Generally, to qualify for benefits at age  (a)   , you must have one quarter of coverage for each year elapsing after 1950 and before the year in which you reach age  (b)  .

4210. CURRENTLY INSURED

A person is currently insured if he has at least six quarters of coverage within the 13-calendar-quarter period ending with the quarter in which he becomes entitled to retirement payments, becomes disabled, or dies.

4212. FULLY INSURED BASED ON EARNINGS RECORD AND ALLEGED DATE OF BIRTH

Based on the date of birth you gave us (   (a)   ), you need   (b)  calendar quarters of social security credit to qualify for retirement insurance benefits. Our records show that you meet this requirement.

4214. NOT INSURED

Based on the date of birth you gave us, you need   (a)   calendar quarters of social security credit to qualify for retirement benefits. Our records of your earnings show that you now have   (b)   of the quarters you need.

The enclosed publication gives an explanation of a calendar quarter of social security credit. The term “quarter of coverage” means the same thing.

NOTE TO TYPIST: Enclose SSA Publication No. 78-10035 (or current revision).

4215. NOT INSURED—LSDP OR SURVIVOR CLAIM

Survivor benefits cannot be paid on the earnings record of the late (a) name of deceased because (b) he, (c) she did not work long enough under social security.

Under the law, no lump sum or monthly benefits are payable unless the worker was fully or currently insured. To be fully insured (d) name or relationship needed  (e)  calendar quarters of work. Our records show credit for  (f)  quarters. To be currently insured, (b) he, (c) she needed six calendar quarters of work in the 13-quarter period ending with death. Our records show credit for  (f)  quarters in this period. For an explanation of how a person earns social security credits, please read the enclosed leaflet.

NOTE TO TYPIST: Enclose SSA Publication No. 78-10047 (or current revision).

4216. HOW WAGES ARE CREDITED

Before 1951, a person could earn social security credits only by working in employment covered by the Social Security Act. He acquired a quarter of coverage for each calendar quarter in which he was paid $50 or more.

4218. CREDITING QUARTERS FOR SELF-EMPLOYMENT

Beginning with 1951, a person (also) earns quarters of coverage by engaging in a trade or business which is covered as self-employment under the Act. A self-employed person acquired four quarters of coverage for each year in which he has net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more.

4220. DEFINITION OF QUARTER OF COVERAGE

A calendar quarter is a 3-month period which ends March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 of any year.

4222. QUARTERS OF COVERAGE FOR MAXIMUM EARNINGS

A person receives social security credit for all four quarters in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m) .

(a)

any calendar year from 1937 through 1950 in which he has earnings of $3,000.

(b)

any calendar year from 1951 through 1954 in which he has earnings of $3,600.

(c)

any calendar year from 1955 through 1958 in which he has earnings of $4,200.

(d)

any calendar year from 1959 through 1965 in which he has earnings of $4,800.

(e)

any calendar year from 1966 through 1967 in which he has earnings of $6,600.

(f)

any calendar year from 1968 through 1971 in which he has earnings of $7,800.

(g)

the calendar year of 1972 if he has earnings of $9,000.

(h)

the calendar year of 1973 if he has earnings of $10,800.

(i)

the calendar year of 1974 if he has earnings of $13,200.

(j)

the calendar year of 1975 if he has earnings of $14,100.

(k)

the calendar year of 1976 if he has earnings of $15,300.

(l)

the calendar year of 1977 if he has earnings of $16,500.

(m)

the calendar year of 1978 if he has earnings of $17,700.

**

Therefore, you will acquire an additional quarter of coverage for (n) or (o) .

(n)

the calendar quarter ending        .

(o)

each of the calendar quarters ending        and        .

**For current information, see applicable instructions.

4222.1 WHEN QUARTER BEGINS

However, a quarter of coverage cannot be counted until the calendar quarter begins.

4224. NO EMPLOYMENT—W/E INQUIRED

According to your records, you never worked in employment covered by the social security program. Therefore, no benefits are payable to you.

4224.1 NO SSN—NO EMPLOYMENT—W/E INQUIRIES

No benefits are payable to you. According to our records, you were never issued a social security number and you never worked in employment covered by the social security program.

4224.2 NO SSN—NO EMPLOYMENT—WIFE OR WIDOW INQUIRIES

No benefits are payable to you. According to our records, your husband was never issued a social security number and never worked in employment covered by the social security program.

4226. CREDITING QUARTERS FOR RAILROAD EMPLOYMENT OR MILITARY SERVICE

Additional calendar quarters of social security credit may be given for active military or naval service in the United States Armed Forces after September 15, 1940. You may also receive credit if you have worked for a United States Railroad or been given credit for military service by the Railroad Retirement Board.

4228. COMPLETE CREDITING OF QUARTERS OF COVERAGE

The Act provides that a quarter of coverage is a calendar quarter in which the worker was paid $50 or more in wages before 1978.

(A)

After 1954, if the wages are for agricultural labor, a quarter of coverage is earned for each $100 paid in a calendar year, provided that, after 1956, such wages paid to the worker during the year by an employer were at least $150, or the person worked for an employer on at least 20 days during the year for cash pay figured on a time basis.

(B)

After 1950, quarters of coverage are earned by a person whose net earnings from self-employment are at least $400 in a taxable year.

(C)

No more than 4 quarters of coverage may be earned in a calendar year. A calendar quarter ends on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of any year after 1936.

(D)

For the calendar year 1978, a quarter of coverage is given (up to maximum of 4) for each $250 of total earnings credited to the year. The total earnings credited may consist of nonagricultural wages (including deemed military wages), agricultural wages, self-employment income to the maximum creditable for the year. A self-employed individual cannot acquire a quarter of coverage whenever his/her net earnings from self-employment is less than $400 in the taxable year.

For taxable years beginning after 1978, the amount of wages and self-employment income which an individual must have in order to be credited with a quarter of coverage will be adjusted in accordance with the increased average earnings reported to the Secretary of the Treasury.