Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning (ADFP) Practice Test

To qualify for retirement benefits under the Social Security system, an individual must be what?

1. Partially insured

2. Fully insured

3. Premium qualified

4. Credit eligible

The correct answer is: Fully insured

To qualify for retirement benefits under the Social Security system, an individual must be fully insured. This means that the person must have earned a specific number of work credits, which are accumulated based on the individual's work history and contributions to Social Security through payroll taxes. Typically, a worker must have a total of 40 credits, which equates to about 10 years of work, to be considered fully insured. This status ensures that the individual has sufficiently contributed to the system to receive benefits upon reaching retirement age. The requirement for being fully insured is a key aspect of the Social Security framework, as it helps determine eligibility for various benefits, including retirement. Other terms such as partially insured, premium qualified, and credit eligible do not align with the standard requirements set forth by the Social Security Administration for retirement benefits. Partially insured may relate to benefits like disability payments but does not apply to retirement. The concepts of premium qualified and credit eligible do not exist within the context of Social Security retirement benefits. Thus, being fully insured is the critical criterion for eligibility.