What work credits are and why they matter

Work credits are a record of the wages you've earned and the taxes you've paid into Social Security. Social Security uses them to decide whether you have worked long enough to receive SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). You earn credits by working and paying Social Security payroll taxes — you don't explore for them or do anything special to get them.

The Social Security Administration automatically tracks your credits based on your W-2 forms and tax records. Each year you work, you can earn up to four credits. The amount of money you need to earn to get one credit changes each year — in 2024, you earn one credit for every $1,550 you make, but this figure is different each year.

To receive SSDI, you must have earned enough credits during your working years. The exact number depends on your age when you become disabled. This is separate from whether your medical condition qualifies — you need both the medical diagnosis and the work history.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn one work credit for roughly every $1,550 you earn in a year, up to a maximum of four credits per year, and the dollar amount changes annually.
  • Most people need 40 total credits to receive SSDI, with at least 20 of those credits earned in the 10 years before you become disabled.
  • If you became disabled before age 24, you may need fewer credits — as few as six credits earned in the three years before disability.
  • Social Security tracks your credits automatically through your tax records, so you don't need to report them yourself.
  • You can check your work credit record by creating a my Social Security account online or requesting a statement by mail.

How many credits you need based on your age

The number of work credits required depends on how old you were when you became disabled. Social Security has different rules for different ages because younger workers have had less time to build up a work history.

If you are age 31 or older when you become disabled, you generally need 40 total credits. Of those 40, at least 20 must have been earned in the 10 years when ready before your disability began. This means you need to have worked fairly consistently in the years leading up to your disability.

If you became disabled between ages 24 and 30, the rules are slightly more flexible. You need a total of 20 credits, with at least half of them earned in the years between age 21 and the year you became disabled. If you became disabled before age 24, you may need as few as six credits earned in the three years before your disability started.

These age-based rules exist because Social Security recognizes that younger workers haven't had as much time to accumulate credits. A 22-year-old who becomes disabled after working for two years would not be expected to have 40 credits.

How credits are earned and tracked

You earn work credits by working in a job where you pay Social Security payroll taxes. This includes most W-2 jobs and self-employment income. Each quarter of the year (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December), Social Security counts how much you've earned. Once you've earned enough in a quarter to reach the annual credit threshold, you get one credit for that quarter.

Social Security receives information about your earnings from your employer's tax filings and your own tax returns. You don't have to do anything to report your credits — the system tracks them automatically. The Social Security Administration maintains a record of your earnings history under your Social Security number.

If you worked for an employer who did not pay Social Security taxes (some government employees or railroad workers, for example), those earnings may not count toward your credits. If you're unsure whether your job paid into Social Security, you can check your earnings record online.

Checking your work credit record

You can see how many work credits you've earned by checking your Social Security earnings record. The fastest way is to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you're logged in, you can view your complete earnings history and see exactly how many credits you've earned each year.

If you don't want to create an online account, you can request a printed statement by mail. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask them to mail you a Statement of Earnings. The statement shows your earnings year by year and the number of credits you've earned.

Checking your record before you explore for SSDI is a good idea. If you see errors — for example, earnings that weren't recorded or were recorded under the wrong name — you can correct them before you submit your SSDI process. Social Security has a process for correcting earnings records, though it can take time.

What happens if you don't have enough credits

If you don't have enough work credits to receive SSDI, you may still be able to receive benefits through a different program. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that does not require work credits. Instead, it looks at your current income and assets. If your income and resources are below certain limits, you may receive SSI even if you have no work history at all.

SSI and SSDI are separate programs with different rules. SSDI is based on your work history and the taxes you've paid. SSI is based on financial need. Some people receive both programs at the same time, though the total amount is usually limited.

If you're close to having enough credits but not quite there, you might consider whether you can continue working while managing your condition. Each additional year of work can add up to four more credits. However, this is only possible if your condition allows it, and you should discuss this with your doctor before making any decisions about work.

Work credits and family members

If you receive SSDI, certain family members may also receive benefits based on your work record. These family members — such as a spouse, ex-spouse, or child — don't need their own work credits. Instead, they receive benefits because they are related to you and you have enough credits to may have access to for SSDI.

The amount each family member receives is a percentage of your benefit amount. The total amount paid to your entire family is limited by what Social Security calls the "family maximum," which is typically 150 to 180 percent of your own benefit amount.

Family members must meet other requirements beyond just being related to you. For example, a spouse must be at least 62 years old (or any age if caring for a child under 16), and children must be under 19 (or 19 if still in high school full-time). An ex-spouse has additional requirements, including that the marriage lasted at least 10 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn work credits while receiving SSDI?

Yes. If you work while receiving SSDI, you continue to earn work credits. However, there are limits on how much you can earn before your benefits are affected. Social Security has a "substantial gainful activity" threshold — if you earn above that amount, your SSDI may be reduced or stopped. The threshold changes each year.

What if I worked in another country — do those credits count?

Credits earned in most other countries do not count toward SSDI. However, Social Security has agreements with some countries that allow work done there to count. If you worked outside the United States, contact Social Security directly to ask whether that work can be credited.

Do I lose work credits if I don't work for several years?

No. Once you've earned a work credit, it stays on your record permanently. You don't lose credits if you take time off work, go back to school, or are unemployed. The credits you've already earned remain with you.

How do I know if my job is paying into Social Security?

Most jobs pay Social Security taxes, which appear on your pay stub as "FICA" or "Social Security tax." If you're unsure, check your pay stub or ask your employer's payroll department. You can also see which years Social Security recorded earnings by checking your my Social Security account.

Can I get credits for volunteer work or unpaid caregiving?

No. Work credits are earned only through paid employment where Social Security payroll taxes are withheld. Volunteer work, caring for family members without pay, or other unpaid activities do not generate work credits, even if they are valuable and important.