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
their 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 their 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, they 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 their
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.”