\u201cQuarter of coverage\u201d (QC) is a\u00a0legal term<\/a>, but you may also see the term \u201cSocial Security credit\u201d (or just \u201ccredit\u201d) used elsewhere. A QC is a basic unit for determining whether a worker is\u00a0insured<\/a>\u00a0under the Social Security program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The amount of earnings required for a quarter of coverage in 2013 is $1,160. No matter how high your earnings may be, you can not earn more than 4 QC\u2019s in one year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n See\u00a0historical series of earnings<\/a>\u00a0needed to earn one quarter of coverage, 1978-2013.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For years before 1978, an individual generally was credited with a quarter of coverage for each quarter in which wages of $50 or more were paid, or an individual was credited with 4 quarters of coverage for every taxable year in which $400 or more of self-employment income was earned. Beginning in 1978, employers generally report wages on an annual, instead of quarterly, basis. With this change to annual reporting, the law provided that a quarter of coverage be credited for each $250 of an individual\u2019s total wages and self-employment income for calendar year 1978 (up to a maximum of 4 quarters of coverage for the year). After 1978, the amount of earnings needed for a quarter of coverage changes automatically each year with changes in the\u00a0national average wage index<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHistory<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How the Quarter of Coverage Amount for 2013 was Determined<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n