Guinness T. Lis became disabled on 12/15/77. As of that date, the NH was fully insured
and had 20 quarters of coverage in the 40-quarter period ending with the 12/77 quarter.
Although the NH remained continuously disabled and did not work after 12/77, they
did not file an application for DIB until 7/ 10 /88. Hence, the first month of the
waiting period is 2/87, the 17th month before the month of filing. Since the application
for DIB is also an application to establish a “freeze,” a period of disability may
be established beginning with 12/77. This enables the NH, who met the insured status
test at onset, to meet the test in 2/87, the first month of their waiting period.