If you are seeking disability insurance benefits or establishing a period of disability, it is important to understand how the Social Security Administration determines fully insured status.
https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0132.htm
§ 404.132 outlines the rules for determining when the period of elapsed years ends, which is a critical factor in determining if you are fully insured.
For women or men born after January 1, 1913, the period of elapsed years used to determine fully insured status ends as of the earlier of the year you turn 62 or the year in which your period of disability begins, your waiting period begins, or you become entitled to disability insurance benefits (if you do not have to serve a waiting period).
For men born before January 2, 1913, the period of elapsed years used to determine fully insured status ends as of the earlier of the year 1975 or the year specified in the above-mentioned situations.
Understanding these rules can help you determine your eligibility for disability insurance benefits and ensure that you have the necessary quarters of coverage (QCs) to be fully insured. If you have questions about how to establish fully insured status for disability benefits, it may be helpful to consult with a qualified disability advocate or attorney.