Summary quarters of coverage information

This form is available if the worker's earnings start before 1978, when earnings records at the Social Security Administration were updated quarterly.

In 1978 and later, there are no quarterly records; quarters of coverage are simply calculated by dividing annual earnings by the amount required for a quarter of coverage, with a maximum of 4 such quarters of coverage. Before 1978, earnings had to actually be earned in a specific calendar quarter for that quarter to be a quarter of coverage. Therefore, this benefit calculator cannot determine quarters of coverage from annual earnings alone before 1978.

Usually it is sufficient to enter the total number of quarters of coverage prior to 1978 as a lump sum. For instance, simply entering the total number of pre-1978 quarters of coverage is sufficient for any old-age benefit, a survivor benefit where death occurred after 1980, or a disability benefit where disability occurred after 1987. Here are some cases where you do need to enter annual quarters of coverage prior to 1978:

• you checked the totalization button, or
• you chose survivor as the type of benefit and death occurred prior to 1981, or
• you chose disability as the type of benefit and disability occurred prior to 1988, or
• you checked the military service button, or
• you checked the railroad earnings button where such earnings occurred prior to 1978.

The summary quarters of coverage form has the following entries:

• Pre-1978 quarters of coverage: Enter as a lump-sum total
• Pre-1978 quarters of coverage: Enter annual figures
• Number of quarters of coverage, 1937-1977 inclusive
• Number of quarters of coverage, 1951-1977 inclusive