Disability Income✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 1/5
A worker who is fully insured under the Social Security program:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Fully insured status is generally achieved with 40 credits, roughly ten years of covered work. It qualifies the worker for retirement benefits, is part of the test for disability benefits, and provides premium-free Medicare Part A coverage. The distinction from currently insured status matters because the two statuses are built from different credit requirements and gate different benefits. For disability, the worker must also satisfy a recency-of-work, disability insured test, so fully insured status alone is necessary but not sufficient.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) The Social Security definition requires an impairment expected to last at least 12 months or result in death; insured status alone does not waive that test.
- C) Medicare Part B and Part D require premium payment; fully insured status provides premium-free Part A only.
- D) Fully insured requires 40 credits, more, not fewer, than the credits needed for currently insured status.
Memory hook
Fully insured = 40 credits = retirement, disability eligibility, and free Medicare Part A.