A 22-year-old worker has earned Social Security credits over the past three years. How many credits are required for the worker to be currently insured for Social Security disability benefits?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
To be currently insured, a worker must have at least 6 Social Security credits earned within the 13 calendar quarters ending with the quarter in which the disability begins, effectively within the last three years. This lower requirement applies to younger workers, including those under age 24. Being currently insured provides limited benefits such as disability coverage; the 40-credit requirement is for fully insured status, which is needed for retirement and survivor benefits. A worker who is only currently insured is protected for disability but not for the full range of retirement and survivor benefits, so the distinction affects which family protections are available.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) 40 credits is the fully insured standard, not the currently insured test for a young worker under 24; fully insured status requires roughly ten years of work. A 22-year-old would rarely have 40 credits, which require roughly ten years of covered work.
- C) 12 credits in the last two years is not the statutory test; the requirement for a young worker is 6 credits within the last three years. The 12-credit figure matches no requirement in the Social Security rules for this situation.
- D) 20 credits in five years is not the rule; currently insured status for a young worker requires 6 credits in three years. No 20-credit standard exists; the currently insured test is fixed at 6 credits in three years.
Memory hook
Under 24 and disabled? Six credits in three years gets you currently insured.