Understanding How Social Security Determines Fully Insured Status, § 404.110

Are you confused about how the Social Security Administration determines if you are fully insured?

https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0110.htm

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It can be a complex process, but understanding how it works is important for receiving the benefits you deserve. In this blog post, we will break down § 404.110, which describes how the number of quarters of coverage (QCs) needed for fully insured status is determined.

First, let’s look at the general requirements. The number of QCs needed for fully insured status is explained in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section. The table in § 404.115 can be used to determine the number of QCs needed under paragraph (b). Additionally, certain World War II veterans are considered to have died fully insured, as outlined in § 404.111. Certain employees of private nonprofit organizations may also be fully insured if they meet specific requirements, which can be found in § 404.112.

Paragraph (b) breaks down the number of QCs needed for fully insured status. To be fully insured, you need at least 6 QCs but no more than 40 QCs. If a person died before 1951 with at least 6 QCs, they are considered fully insured. For old-age insurance benefits, you are fully insured if you have one QC for each calendar year elapsing after 1950 or after the year you turned 21, but before the year you reach retirement age. Retirement age differs depending on gender and year of birth. For example, if you are a woman, the year you become age 62 is considered retirement age.

If you are eligible for survivor’s benefits, you will be entitled to benefits based on the deceased’s earnings if they were fully insured. To be fully insured in this case, the deceased needed one QC for each calendar year elapsing after 1950 or after the year they turned 21, but before the year they died or reached retirement age.

Paragraph (c) explains how a period of disability affects the number of QCs needed. When determining the number of elapsed years under paragraph (b), any year that is wholly or partly in a period of disability established for you is not counted as an elapsed year. For example, if you were disabled from December 5, 1975, through January 31, 1977, those three years would not be counted as elapsed years.

Paragraph (d) describes how QCs can be credited for fully insured status based on total wages before 1951. The rules for crediting QCs based on wages before 1951 can be used in place of the rule in § 404.141(b)(1). If you have at least 7 elapsed years as determined under paragraph (b)(2) or (b)(3), you may be considered to have one QC for each $400 of your total wages before 1951, as defined in paragraph (d)(2). If you file an application in June 1992 or later and are not entitled to a benefit under section 227 of the Act in the month the application is made, you may be considered to have at least one QC before 1951 if you have $400 or more total wages before 1951, as defined in paragraph (d)(2).

Finally, paragraph (e) explains when fully insured status begins. You are fully insured as of the first day of the calendar quarter in which you acquire the last needed QC, as outlined in § 404.145.

Understanding how the Social Security Administration determines fully insured status can be challenging, but it’s important to know the rules and requirements to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve. If you have any questions about your eligibility or benefits