RS 00301: Retirement, Survivors and Disability Requirements
TN 18 (08-04)
A. Introduction
1. What is insured status?
Insured status is the earnings requirement a number holder (NH) must meet in order to establish entitlement to any type of benefit or a period of disability based on his/her earnings record (e.g., retirement, disability or survivor’s insurance benefits).
To meet insured status, the NH must have the required number of earnings credits, called “quarters of coverage” (QCs), on his/her earnings record. For certain benefits, the QCs must be earned within a specific time frame. There are several different insured status tests depending upon the type of benefit being sought. The table in RS 00301.101B of this section summarizes the various insured status tests.
NOTE: In addition, if the worker is an alien whose Social Security Number (SSN) was first assigned on or after January 1, 2004, he/she must meet additional requirements under Section 211 of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-203) in order to be fully or currently insured and to establish entitlement based on his/her earnings. See RS 00301.102 for a full discussion of these requirements.
An alien worker whose SSN was assigned before January 1, 2004 is exempt from the requirements of section 211 of the Social Security Protection Act, even if the SSN was not “work authorized.”
2. Quarters of Coverage
The following table shows where to find more information about QCs:
| Topic | Reference |
|---|---|
|
When a calendar quarter can be a QC for years after 1977 |
|
|
QCs based in self-employment income |
|
|
When a quarter can be a QC for years before 1978 |
|
|
Assignment of QCs: flexible assignment of QCs after 1977 |
|
|
When a calendar quarter cannot be a QC |
NOTE: Subject to the rules in RS 00301.230 and RS 00301.240, a QC for a year after 1977 may be assigned to a calendar quarter in that year that is most advantageous to the NH for the purposes of determining insured status.
B. Policy—types of insured status
1. Table of insured status tests
The following table summarizes the type(s) of insured status a Number Holder must meet for each class of benefits:
|
Status of the NH |
Type of Benefit Sought |
Then the NH must meet… |
|---|---|---|
|
NH is living |
Retirement Insurance Benefits (RIB) |
Fully Insured status (RS 00301.105) |
|
NH is living |
Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) |
DIB Insured status. In general, DIB insured status means the NH must meet fully insured status and a recent work test, such as 20/40 (RS 00301.120B.1) or Special Insured Status (RS 00301.140). See RS 00301.120 for a discussion or DIB insured status. |
|
NH is living |
Period of Disability (i.e., “Freeze,” no cash benefits) |
Freeze insured status. In general, this means the NH must meet fully insured status and a recent work test, such as 20/40 (RS 00301.120B.1) or Special Insured Status (RS 00301.140). See RS 00301.130 for a discussion of freeze insured status. |
|
NH is living |
Hospital Insurance based on end stage renal disease (ESRD), (R-HI) |
Insured status for Medicare Part A for ESRD; i.e., fully insured status in RS 00301.105; or currently insured status in RS 00301.110. (HI 00801.191C.2 and HI 00801.201.) |
|
NH is living |
Medicare for Qualified Government Employee (MQGE) |
Insured status for hospital insurance (RS 00301.160 and HI 00801.410) |
|
NH is living |
On Record of Retired NH—Child’s benefits (RS 00202.001), |
Fully Insured status |
|
NH is living |
On Record of Retired NH—Spouse benefits (RS 00202.001), |
Fully Insured status (RS 00301.105) or Transitional Insured Status (RS 00202.015, RS 00202.020 |
|
NH is living |
On Record of Disabled NH—Child’s benefits (RS 00203.001), Spouses benefits, including current and divorced spouses (RS 00202.001) |
DIB Insured status. In general, DIB insured status means the NH must meet fully insured status and a recent work test, such as 20/40 (RS 00301.120B.1) or Special Insured Status (RS 00301.140). See RS 00301.120 for discussion of DIB insured status. |
|
NH is deceased |
Child’s benefits (RS 00203.001) |
Fully insured status (RS 00301.105); or Currently insured status |
|
NH is deceased |
Widow(er)’s benefits (RS 00207.001) |
Fully insured status (RS 00301.105); |
|
NH is deceased |
Mother’s/father’s benefits |
Fully insured status (RS 00301.105); or Currently insured status |
|
NH is deceased |
Parent’s Benefits (RS 00209.001) |
Fully insured status |
|
NH is deceased |
Lump-Sum Death Payment |
Fully insured status (RS 00301.105); or Currently insured status (RS 00301.110) |
2. Deemed fully insured status
Certain employees of private nonprofit organizations who do not otherwise meet the fully insured status test in RS 00301.105 are deemed “fully insured” for all Title II purposes, (including Medicare based on End Stage Renal Disease in Section 226A of the SSAct) if the employee meets the requirements in RS 00301.106.
3. Additional requirements for alien workers under the Social Security Protection Act of 2004
Under Section 211 of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, an alien worker must meet additional requirements to be considered insured if his/her SSN was first assigned on or after January 1, 2004. See RS 00301.102 for a full discussion of these requirements.
C. Policy—retirement age for determining insured status
Use the following table to determine the “retirement age” for insured status purposes. NOTE: Do not use the “full retirement age” as defined in RS 00615.003 for determining insured status.
|
If NH is... |
and was born... |
then retirement age is... |
|---|---|---|
|
Female |
any time |
always age 62 |
|
Male |
1/2/1913 or later |
age 62 |
|
Male |
1/2/1911 through 1/1/1913 |
deemed to have attained retirement age of 62 in 1975 |
|
Male |
1/1/1911 or earlier |
age 65 |