United States Code (Last Updated: May 24, 2014) |
Title 42. THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE |
Chapter 7. SOCIAL SECURITY |
SubChapter II. FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS, AND DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS |
§ 413. Quarter and quarter of coverage
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(a) Definitions For the purposes of this subchapter— (1) The term “quarter”, and the term “calendar quarter”, mean a period of three calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31. (2) (A) The term “quarter of coverage” means— (i) for calendar years before 1978, and subject to the provisions of subparagraph (B), a quarter in which an individual has been paid $50 or more in wages (except wages for agricultural labor paid after 1954) or for which he has been credited (as determined under section 412 of this title) with $100 or more of self-employment income; and (ii) for calendar years after 1977, and subject to the provisions of subparagraph (B), each portion of the total of the wages paid and the self-employment income credited (pursuant to section 412 of this title) to an individual in a calendar year which equals the amount required for a quarter of coverage in that calendar year (as determined under subsection (d) of this section), with such quarter of coverage being assigned to a specific calendar quarter in such calendar year only if necessary in the case of any individual who has attained age 62 or died or is under a disability and the requirements for insured status in subsection (a) or (b) of section 414 of this title, the requirements for entitlement to a computation or recomputation of his primary insurance amount, or the requirements of paragraph (3) of section 416(i) of this title would not otherwise be met. (B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A)— (i) no quarter after the quarter in which an individual dies shall be a quarter of coverage, and no quarter any part of which is included in a period of disability (other than the initial quarter and the last quarter of such period) shall be a quarter of coverage; (ii) if the wages paid to an individual in any calendar year equal $3,000 in the case of a calendar year before 1951, or $3,600 in the case of a calendar year after 1950 and before 1955, or $4,200 in the case of a calendar year after 1954 and before 1959, or $4,800 in the case of a calendar year after 1958 and before 1966, or $6,600 in the case of a calendar year after 1965 and before 1968, or $7,800 in the case of a calendar year after 1967 and before 1972, or $9,000 in the case of the calendar year 1972, or $10,800 in the case of the calendar year 1973, or $13,200 in the case of the calendar year 1974, or an amount equal to the contribution and benefit base (as determined under section 430 of this title) in the case of any calendar year after 1974 and before 1978 with respect to which such contribution and benefit base is effective, each quarter of such year shall (subject to clauses (i) and (v)) be a quarter of coverage; (iii) if an individual has self-employment income for a taxable year, and if the sum of such income and the wages paid to him during such year equals $3,600 in the case of a taxable year beginning after 1950 and ending before 1955, or $4,200 in the case of a taxable year ending after 1954 and before 1959, or $4,800 in the case of a taxable year ending after 1958 and before 1966, or $6,600 in the case of a taxable year ending after 1965 and before 1968, or $7,800 in the case of a taxable year ending after 1967 and before 1972, or $9,000 in the case of a taxable year beginning after 1971 and before 1973, or $10,800 in the case of a taxable year beginning after 1972 and before 1974, or $13,200 in the case of a taxable year beginning after 1973 and before 1975, or an amount equal to the contribution and benefit base (as determined under section 430 of this title) which is effective for the calendar year in the case of any taxable year beginning in any calendar year after 1974 and before 1978, each quarter any part of which falls in such year shall (subject to clauses (i) and (v)) be a quarter of coverage; (iv) if an individual is paid wages for agricultural labor in a calendar year after 1954 and before 1978, then, subject to clauses (i) and (v), (I) the last quarter of such year which can be but is not otherwise a quarter of coverage shall be a quarter of coverage if such wages equal or exceed $100 but are less than $200; (II) the last two quarters of such year which can be but are not otherwise quarters of coverage shall be quarters of coverage if such wages equal or exceed $200 but are less than $300; (III) the last three quarters of such year which can be but are not otherwise quarters of coverage shall be quarters of coverage if such wages equal or exceed $300 but are less than $400; and (IV) each quarter of such year which is not otherwise a quarter of coverage shall be a quarter of coverage if such wages are $400 or more; (v) no quarter shall be counted as a quarter of coverage prior to the beginning of such quarter; (vi) not more than one quarter of coverage may be credited to a calendar quarter; and (vii) no more than four quarters of coverage may be credited to any calendar year after 1977. If in the case of an individual who has attained age 62 or died or is under a disability and who has been paid wages for agricultural labor in a calendar year after 1954 and before 1978, the requirements for insured status in subsection (a) or (b) of section 414 of this title, the requirements for entitlement to a computation or recomputation of his primary insurance amount, or the requirements of paragraph (3) of section 416(i) of this title are not met after assignment of quarters of coverage to quarters in such year as provided in clause (iv) of the preceding sentence, but would be met if such quarters of coverage were assigned to different quarters in such year, then such quarters of coverage shall instead be assigned, for purposes only of determining compliance with such requirements, to such different quarters. If, in the case of an individual who did not die prior to January 1, 1955 , and who attained age 62 (if a woman) or age 65 (if a man) or died beforeJuly 1, 1957 , the requirements for insured status in section 414(a)(3) of this title are not met because of his having too few quarters of coverage but would be met if his quarters of coverage in the first calendar year in which he had any covered employment had been determined on the basis of the period during which wages were earned rather than on the basis of the period during which wages were paid (any such wages paid that are reallocated on an earned basis shall not be used in determining quarters of coverage for subsequent calendar years), then upon application filed by the individual or his survivors and satisfactory proof of his record of wages earned being furnished by such individual or his survivors, the quarters of coverage in such calendar year may be determined on the basis of the periods during which wages were earned.(b) Crediting of wages paid in 1937 With respect to wages paid to an individual in the six-month periods commencing either
January 1, 1937 , orJuly 1, 1937 ; (A) if wages of not less than $100 were paid in any such period, one-half of the total amount thereof shall be deemed to have been paid in each of the calendar quarters in such period; and (B) if wages of less than $100 were paid in any such period, the total amount thereof shall be deemed to have been paid in the latter quarter of such period, except that if in any such period, the individual attained age sixty-five, all of the wages paid in such period shall be deemed to have been paid before such age was attained.(c) Alternative method for determining quarters of coverage with respect to wages in period from 1937 to 1950 For purposes of sections 414(a) and 415(d) of this title, an individual shall be deemed to have one quarter of coverage for each $400 of his total wages prior to 1951 (as defined in section 415(d)(1)(C) of this title), except where such individual is not a fully insured individual on the basis of the number of quarters of coverage so derived plus the number of quarters of coverage derived from the wages and self-employment income credited to such individual for periods after 1950.
(d) Amount required for a quarter of coverage (1) The amount of wages and self-employment income which an individual must have in order to be credited with a quarter of coverage in any year under subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii) of this section shall be $250 in the calendar year 1978 and the amount determined under paragraph (2) of this subsection for years after 1978. (2) The Commissioner of Social Security shall, on or before November 1 of 1978 and of every year thereafter, determine and publish in the Federal Register the amount of wages and self-employment income which an individual must have in order to be credited with a quarter of coverage in the succeeding calendar year. The amount required for a quarter of coverage shall be the larger of— (A) the amount in effect in the calendar year in which the determination under this subsection is made, or (B) the product of the amount prescribed in paragraph (1) which is required for a quarter of coverage in 1978 and the ratio of the national average wage index (as defined in section 409(k)(1) of this title) for the calendar year before the year in which the determination under this paragraph is made to the national average wage index (as so defined) for 1976, with such product, if not a multiple of $10, being rounded to the next higher multiple of $10 where such amount is a multiple of $5 but not of $10 and to the nearest multiple of $10 in any other case.
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–296, § 321(a)(15), substituted “sections” for “section” before “414(a) and 415(d) of this title”.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 103–296, § 107(a)(4), substituted “Commissioner of Social Security” for “Secretary” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 103–296, § 321(e)(2)(A), substituted “national average wage index” for “deemed average total wages” before “(as defined in” and “the national average wage index (as so defined) for 1976,” for “the average of the total wages (as defined in regulations of the Secretary and computed without regard to the limitations specified in section 409(a)(1) of this title) reported to the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate for 1976 (as published in the Federal Register in accordance with section 415(a)(1)(D) of this title),”.
1990—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–508 inserted “and 415(d)” after “section 414(a)” and substituted “except where such individual is not a fully insured individual on the basis of the number of quarters of coverage so derived plus the number of quarters of coverage derived from the wages and self-employment income credited to such individual for periods after 1950.” for “except where—
“(1) such individual is not a fully insured individual on the basis of the number of quarters of coverage so derived plus the number of quarters of coverage derived from the wages and self-employment income credited to him for periods after 1950, or
“(2) such individual’s elapsed years (for purposes of section 414(a)(1) of this title) are less than 7.”
1989—Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 101–239, § 10208(b)(2)(A), (B), substituted “the deemed average total wages (as defined in section 409(k)(1) of this title)” for “the average of the total wages (as defined in regulations of the Secretary and computed without regard to the limitations specified in section 409(a)(1) of this title) reported to the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate” and “(as defined in regulations of the Secretary and computed without regard to the limitations specified in section 409(a)(1) of this title)” for “(as so defined and computed)”.
Pub. L. 101–239, § 10208(d)(2)(A)(i), substituted “409(a)(1)” for “409(a)”.
1984—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, § 2663(a)(9)(A), substituted “mean” for “means”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 98–369, § 2663(a)(9)(B), substituted “equal $3,000” for “equal to $3,000”.
1980—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 96–473 substituted reference to quarter of coverage, for reference to quarters of coverage.
1977—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 95–216, §§ 351(c), 352(a), substituted provisions relating to factors respecting definition of “quarters of coverage” for calendar years before 1978, subject to the provisions of subpar. (B) of this par., and for calendar years after 1977, subject to the provisions of subpar. (B) of this par., for provisions relating to factors respecting definition of “quarter of coverage” as a quarter in which the individual has been paid $50 or more in wages (except wages for agricultural labor paid after 1954) or for which he has been credited (as determined under section 412 of this title) with $100 or more of self-employment income.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–216, § 352(b), added subsec. (d).
1973—Subsec. (a)(2)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 93–233 substituted “$13,200” for “$12,600”.
Pub. L. 93–66 substituted “$12,600” for “$12,000”, in cls. (ii) and (iii).
1972—Subsec. (a)(2)(ii). Pub. L. 92–336, § 203(a)(3)(A), inserted provisions for determining a quarter of coverage based on amounts earned as wages after 1971 and before 1975, and amounts equal to the contribution and benefit base in the case of any calendar year after 1974 with respect to which such contribution and benefit base is effective.
Subsec. (a)(2)(iii). Pub. L. 92–336, § 203(a)(3)(B), inserted provisions for determining a quarter of coverage based on amounts earned as wages after 1971 and before 1975, and amounts equal to the contribution and benefit base which is effective for the calendar year in the case of any taxable year beginning in any calendar year after 1974.
1971—Subsec. (a)(2)(ii). Pub. L. 92–5, § 203(a)(3)(A), substituted “after 1967 and before 1972, or $9,000 in the case of a calendar year after 1971” for “after 1967”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(iii). Pub. L. 92–5, § 203(a)(3)(B), substituted “after 1967 and beginning before 1972, or $9,000 in the case of a taxable year beginning after 1971” for “after 1967”.
1968—Subsec. (a)(2)(ii). Pub. L. 90–248, § 108(a)(3)(A), inserted “and before 1968, or $7,800 in the case of a calendar year after 1967” after “1965”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(iii). Pub. L. 90–248, § 108(a)(3)(B), inserted “and before 1968, or $7,800 in the case of a taxable year ending after 1967” after “1965”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 90–248, § 155(b)(1), added subsec. (c).
1965—Subsec. (a)(2)(ii). Pub. L. 89–97, § 320(a)(3)(A), substituted “after 1958 and before 1966, or $6,600 in the case of a calendar year after 1965” for “after 1958”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(iii). Pub. L. 89–97, § 320(a)(3)(B), substituted “after 1958 and before 1966, or $6,600 in the case of a taxable year ending after 1965” for “after 1958”.
1961—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–64 substituted “has attained age 62” for “has attained retirement age”, and “who attained age 62 (if a woman) or age 65 (if a man)” for “who attained retirement age”.
1960—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 86–778 required each quarter of a calendar year before 1951 to be counted as a quarter of coverage if the individual received wages equal to $3,000 in the calendar year.
Pub. L. 86–442 inserted sentence in cl. (B) to permit the quarters of coverage in a calendar year to be determined on the basis of the periods during which wages were earned in the case of individuals who did not die prior to
1958—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 85–840 inserted “and before 1959, or $4,800 in the case of a calendar year after 1958” after “after 1954” in cl. (ii), and “and before 1959, or $4,800 in the case of a taxable year ending after 1958” after “after 1954” in cl. (iii).
1956—Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iv). Act
1954—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Act
Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Act
Act
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(i). Act
1952—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Act
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(i). Act
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii). Act
Effective Date Of Amendment
Amendment by section 107(a)(4) of Pub. L. 103–296 effective
Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5117(c)(3),
Amendment by section 10208(b)(2)(A), (B) of Pub. L. 101–239 applicable with respect to computation of average total wage amounts (under amended provisions) for calendar years after 1990, see section 10208(c) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 430 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective
Amendment by section 351(c) of Pub. L. 95–216 effective
Pub. L. 95–216, title III, § 352(c),
Amendment by Pub. L. 93–233 applicable only with respect to remuneration paid after, and taxable years beginning after, 1973, see section 5(e) of Pub. L. 93–233, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 93–66 applicable only with respect to remuneration paid after, and taxable years beginning after, 1973, see section 203(e) of Pub. L. 93–66, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.
Amendment by section 203(a)(3)(A) of Pub. L. 92–336 applicable only with respect to remuneration paid after December 1972, and amendment by section 203(a)(3)(B) of Pub. L. 92–336 applicable only with respect to taxable years beginning after 1972, see section 203(c) of Pub. L. 92–336, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.
Amendment by section 203(a)(3)(A) of Pub. L. 92–5 applicable only with respect to remuneration paid after December 1971, and amendment by section 203(a)(3)(B) of Pub. L. 92–5 applicable only with respect to taxable years beginning after 1971, see section 203(c) of Pub. L. 92–5, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.
Amendment by section 108(a)(3)(A) of Pub. L. 90–248 applicable only with respect to remuneration paid after December 1967, and amendment by section 108(a)(3)(B) applicable only with respect to taxable years ending after 1967, see section 108(c) of Pub. L. 90–248, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.
Pub. L. 90–248, title I, § 155(b)(2),
Amendment by section 320(a)(3)(A) of Pub. L. 89–97 applicable with respect to remuneration paid after December, 1965, and amendment by section 320(a)(3)(B) of Pub. L. 89–97 applicable with respect to taxable years ending after 1965, see section 320(c) of Pub. L. 89–97, set out as a note under section 3121 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.
Amendment by Pub. L. 87–64 applicable with respect to monthly benefits for months beginning on or after
Pub. L. 86–778, title II, § 206(b),
Pub. L. 86–442, § 3,
Act Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1206, title I, § 106(h), 68 Stat. 1083, provided that:
Termination Date
Act July 18, 1952, ch. 945, § 3(f), 66 Stat. 773, provided that:
Act July 18, 1952, ch. 945, § 3(g), 66 Stat. 773, provided that: