People with ESRD are fully insured for R-HI if they (or a spouse, or a parent on whom
they are dependent) have one QC for each year:
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•
elapsing after 1950 (or, if later, elapsing after the year the worker attained age
21); and
-
•
up to, the year of ESRD onset (or the year the worker attained age 62 or died, if
earlier).
A minimum of 6 QCs is required when the elapsed years are less than 7.
A year that is totally or partially within a period of disability is not counted as
an elapsed year although QCs within that period may be counted toward insured status.
Proof of age is not required to establish R-HI insured status whenever the claimant
(or spouse or parent) is either currently insured or has at least 40 QCs. However,
proof of age is necessary whenever attainment of age 22 or 62 affects the fully insured
status determination of a claimant (or spouse or parent) who does not have 40 QCs.
An individual who is not fully insured at ESRD onset may become fully insured after
onset. In that case, Medicare entitlement is delayed until fully insured status occurs.
As explained in HI 00801.261, a “freeze,” for HI purposes only, may reduce the number of quarters necessary for fully insured
status where the worker was previously entitled to R-HI.