Automatic Determinations
Employment coverage thresholds
Wage-indexed amounts |
Latest amount & QC explanation
The amount of earnings required for a quarter of coverage (QC) in 2024 is
$1,730. "Quarter of coverage" is a
legal term,
but you may also see the term "Social Security credit" (or just "credit") used
elsewhere. A QC is the basic unit for determining whether a worker is
insured under the Social Security program.
No matter how high your earnings may be, you can not earn more than 4 QC's in
one year.
History
See historical series of earnings needed
to earn one quarter of coverage, 1978-2024.
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's 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
national average wage index.
Determination of the quarter of coverage amount for 2024
The law specifies that the quarter of coverage (QC) amount for 2024 is
equal to the 1978 amount of $250 multiplied by the ratio of the
national average wage index for 2022 to that for
1976, or, if larger, the 2023 amount of $1,640. If the amount so
determined is not a multiple of $10, it shall be rounded to the nearest
multiple of $10.
Calculation details
Amounts in formula |
1978 earnings for one QC | $250 |
1976 average wage index | 9,226.48 |
2022 average wage index | 63,795.13 |
Computation | $250 times 63,795.13 divided by 9,226.48
equals $1,728.59, which rounds to $1,730 |
Higher amount | $1,730 exceeds the amount for 2023,
so the earnings needed to earn one QC in 2024 is $1,730 |
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