1978 Quarter

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Latest amount & QC explanation
The amount of earnings required for a quarter of coverage (QC) in 2021 is $1,470. '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, 1978-2021.

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 2021
The law specifies that the quarter of coverage (QC) amount for 2021 is equal to the 1978 amount of $250 multiplied by the ratio of the national average wage index for 2019 to that for 1976, or, if larger, the 2020 amount of $1,410. 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 index9,226.48
2019 average wage index54,099.99
Computation$250 times 54,099.99 divided by 9,226.48 equals $1,465.89, which rounds to $1,470
Higher amount$1,470 exceeds the amount for 2020, so the earnings needed to earn one QC in 2021 is $1,470

Amount of earnings needed to earn one quarter of coverage
YearEarnings
1978$250
1979260
1980290
1981310
1982340
1983370
1984390
1985410
1986440
1987460
1988470
1989500
1990520
1991540
1992570
YearEarnings
1993$590
1994620
1995630
1996640
1997670
1998700
1999740
2000780
2001830
2002870
2003890
2004900
2005920
2006970
20071,000
YearEarnings
2008$1,050
20091,090
20101,120
20111,120
20121,130
20131,160
20141,200
20151,220
20161,260
20171,300
20181,320
20191,360
20201,410
20211,470

1978 S Washington Quarter Proof CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1978 S Washington Quarter Proof value at an average of 25 cents, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $4.

Latest amount & QC explanation
The amount of earnings required for a quarter of coverage (QC) in 2021 is $1,470. '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, 1978-2021.

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 2021
The law specifies that the quarter of coverage (QC) amount for 2021 is equal to the 1978 amount of $250 multiplied by the ratio of the national average wage index for 2019 to that for 1976, or, if larger, the 2020 amount of $1,410. 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 index9,226.48
2019 average wage index54,099.99
Computation$250 times 54,099.99 divided by 9,226.48 equals $1,465.89, which rounds to $1,470
Higher amount$1,470 exceeds the amount for 2020, so the earnings needed to earn one QC in 2021 is $1,470

Amount of earnings needed to earn one quarter of coverage
YearEarnings
1978$250
1979260
1980290
1981310
1982340
1983370
1984390
1985410
1986440
1987460
1988470
1989500
1990520
1991540
1992570
YearEarnings
1993$590
1994620
1995630
1996640
1997670
1998700
1999740
2000780
2001830
2002870
2003890
2004900
2005920
2006970
20071,000
YearEarnings
2008$1,050
20091,090
20101,120
20111,120
20121,130
20131,160
20141,200
20151,220
20161,260
20171,300
20181,320
20191,360
20201,410
20211,470

1978 Quarter Value Chart

1978

1978 Quarter Mistakes

  1. Did not strike quarters with the 1975 date. Dual-dated quarters bearing the date 1776-1976 were issued during all of 1975 and 1976 to honor the Bicentennial.
  2. I found this 1978 quarter and it might be silver. Is that an error? Attached Files: 004.JPG File size: 475.8 KB Views: 1,379. Sam Munden, Aug 2, 2014.