To qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, you must generally have "40 quarters of coverage." This means that you must have been working for 10 years and earning at least the minimum income (adjusted annually for inflation) required to receive a quarter of coverage.
For example, in 2012, you can receive one credit for each $1,130 of earnings, up to the maximum of four quarters of credit per year. The maximum number of quarters of coverage that can be earned in a year is four.
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