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| Variable Name | wqc_yrtot_YYYY |
| Top Access Level | released |
| Label | SER: Annual Total Covered Quarters of Work |
| Codebook | SIPP Synthetic Beta v6.02 |
| Concept | |
| Type | numeric |
Files
ssb_v6_0_2_syntheticK_M.sas7bdat
http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sipp/methodology/sipp-synthetic-beta-data-product.html
(
SAS
)
ssb_v6_0_2_syntheticK_M.dta
http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sipp/methodology/sipp-synthetic-beta-data-product.html
(
Stata
)
Full Description
Indicates the total number of quarters of FICA-covered work in year YYYY, where YYYY=1951-2011.
In 2011, an individual received credit for one quarter of coverage for every $ he/she
earned at a FICA-covered job in the year. In 1978, $250 was required in order to be
credited one quarter of coverage. This number increases automatically each year and
is tied to increases in average wages. A maximum of 4 quarters per year is possible.
Quarters of coverage are used to calculate eligibility for OASDI benefits. For example,
people who reached age 62 in 2011 were eligible to retire if they had at least 40
quarters of coverage. The number of quarters of coverage required to be fully insured
has changed over time. See http://www.socialsecurity.gov/history/reports/crsleghist2.html
for a summary of rules.
Prior to 1978, a quarter of coverage was granted for every quarter of the calendar
year in which the worker had at least $50 in earnings at a FICA-covered job. Hence
the portion of this array from 1951-1977 provides more detail about whether a worker
was employed throughout the year. However caution should be used when looking at these
earlier years as far fewer jobs were FICA-covered and hence zero quarters of coverage
does not mean the person as not employed but rather that the person was not employed
by a job that required FICA taxes or made the person eligible for OASDI benefits.
Value Ranges
Value Range
Range: [ 0 , 4 ]
Groups
Summary Earnings Record Variables
Values (5 total)
| 0 | |
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 |
