1105.098.20.20 SSA Earnings Chart – DSS Manuals

IM-163 November 11, 2000 , IM-118 August 2, 2000

Use the following chart to determine the number of qualifying quarters of earnings that can be credited toward an immigrant’s 40 quarters. The dollar amount indicates the amount of earnings needed to credit one (1) qualifying quarter beginning with 1978.

1978……….$250 1990……….$520 1979……….$260 1991……….$540 1980……….$290 1992……….$570 1981……….$310 1993……….$590 1982……….$340 1994……….$620 1983……….$370 1995……….$630 1984……….$390 1996……….$640 1985……….$410 1997……….$670 1986……….$440 1998……….$700 1987……….$460 1999……….$740 1988……….$470 2000……….$780 1989……….$500 2001……….$830

To determine the number of quarters earned in a specific year, divide the earnings for that year by the dollar amount shown for that year. For the current year, count the quarter as soon as the individual has earnings in that quarter equal to the amount shown on the chart. A quarter in which the immigrant received a Federal means-tested public benefit cannot count as a qualifying quarter.

The maximum number of quarters that can be credited in a calendar year is four quarters, regardless of earnings. Examples of how to calculate quarters are:

EXAMPLE 1: An immigrant earned $2,090 in 1995. $2,090 divided by $630 = 3 with $200 remaining. The individual has 3 qualifying quarters from 1995. The remainder of $200 is not enough earnings to credit a fourth quarter.

EXAMPLE 2: An immigrant earned $3,000 in January 1998. $3,000 divided by $700 = 4 with $200 remaining. As of February 1998, the individual has 4 qualifying quarters.

EXAMPLE 3: An immigrant earned $15,000 in 1997. The individual has 4 qualifying quarters. $15,000 divided by $670 = 22 with $260 remaining, but the individual can be credited with only 4 quarters for the calendar year.

EXAMPLE 4: An immigrant earned $1,500 during the January, February and March quarter of 1998. The immigrant received Temporary Assistance for January and February 1998. The immigrant has zero (0) qualifying quarters from this time period because s/he received a Federal means-tested public benefit during the quarter.

To assign quarters before 1978:

A credit was earned for each calendar quarter in which an individual was paid $50 or more in wages (including agricultural wages for 1951-1954);

Four credits were earned for each taxable year in which an individual’s net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more; and/or

A credit was earned for each $100 (limit to a total of four for agricultural wages paid during the year for the years 1955-1977.