What work credits are and why they matter
Work credits are the measure Social Security uses to decide whether you have worked enough to be covered by disability insurance. You earn them by paying Social Security taxes on your wages — one credit per quarter of the year, up to four credits per year. To receive SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), you must have earned a minimum number of credits, and most of those credits must be recent.
The exact number of credits you need depends on your age when your disability began. Younger workers need fewer credits than older workers. Social Security also requires that you have earned most of your credits within the last ten years — this is called the "recency requirement" and it exists because SSDI is meant to replace income you would have earned if you were still working.
You can check how many credits you have already earned by reviewing your Social Security Statement, which you can view online at ssa.gov if you create a my Social Security account. Your statement shows your earnings history year by year and the credits you earned in each year.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one work credit for every quarter (three-month period) in which you earn a certain amount of income subject to Social Security tax — in 2024, that amount is $1,730 per quarter, but this figure changes yearly.
- Most people need between 20 and 40 work credits to be covered by SSDI, depending on the age at which the disability began.
- At least 20 of your credits must have been earned in the ten years before your disability began — this is the recency requirement.
- Self-employment income counts toward work credits if you pay self-employment tax, and unpaid work (volunteering, family care) does not count.
- You can see your exact work credit count and earnings history on your Social Security Statement at ssa.gov.
How many credits you need based on your age
The number of credits required depends on how old you were when you became disabled. If you became disabled before age 24, you need only six credits earned in the three years before the disability began. If you were between 24 and 31 when the disability started, you need credits equal to one for each year since age 21, with a minimum of six credits. For workers 31 and older, the requirement is 40 credits total, with at least 20 of those earned in the ten years before the disability began.
These rules mean that a 22-year-old who has worked part-time for two years may already have enough credits to be covered, while a 45-year-old who stopped working ten years ago and has not worked since will not have enough recent credits, even if they worked steadily earlier in life. The recency requirement exists because SSDI is designed to replace earnings you would have had if you were still able to work.
What counts as work and what does not
Work credits come from wages you earned as an employee or from net self-employment income on which you paid self-employment tax. If you were paid in cash under the table and no Social Security taxes were withheld or paid, those wages do not count toward credits. The same is true for work you did without pay — caring for family members, volunteering, or helping a friend's business without receiving wages.
If you are self-employed, you earn credits based on your net business income after expenses, as long as you file a tax return and pay self-employment tax. Rental income, investment income, and pension payments do not count as work for the purpose of earning credits. Only income on which Social Security tax was paid — either by you as an employee or by you and your employer combined as a self-employed person — builds toward your credit count.
The ten-year recency rule and why it matters
Even if you have 40 work credits, you still need to have earned at least 20 of those credits in the ten-year period before your disability began. This rule prevents someone who worked steadily 20 years ago but has not worked since from receiving SSDI based on old work history.
The ten-year window is measured backward from the date your disability is determined to have begun. If you stopped working five years ago and became disabled last month, your ten-year window includes the five years you were not working, plus the five years before that. You need at least 20 credits from that entire ten-year span. If you worked steadily for those ten years, you will easily meet this requirement. If you had gaps in employment during that period, you may not.
How to read your Social Security Statement
Your Social Security Statement shows your complete earnings record and the number of credits you earned each year. To view it, go to ssa.gov and create or log into your my Social Security account. The statement lists your earnings by year and shows the credits earned in each year — typically four credits per year if you worked the full year, or fewer if you worked part of the year.
Check the earnings history for accuracy. If you see a year with no earnings when you know you worked, or earnings that seem too low, contact Social Security to correct the record. Errors in your earnings history can affect both your credit count and the amount of your benefit if you are found to have a disability. You can request a correction by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office.
What happens if you do not have enough credits
If you do not have enough work credits, you will not be covered by SSDI, even if you have a severe medical condition. However, you may be covered by Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a separate program that does not require work credits. SSI is based on financial need rather than work history, and it has different rules about income and resources.
If you are close to having enough credits — for example, you need just a few more quarters of work — you might be able to return to work part-time to earn the remaining credits before your condition worsens. Each quarter in which you earn the required amount (which changes yearly) counts as one credit, regardless of how much you earn above that threshold. This can sometimes be a path forward if you have some capacity to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn work credits while I am disabled?
Yes. If you are working and earning wages or self-employment income, you continue to earn work credits even if you have a disability. Work credits are based on income, not on your health status. However, if you are already receiving SSDI, there are limits on how much you can earn before your benefits are affected — this is separate from the work credit question.
Do credits from a job I had 15 years ago count toward SSDI?
Only if you also meet the recency requirement. You can have 40 credits total, but at least 20 must be from the ten years before your disability began. Credits from 15 years ago count toward your total of 40, but they do not count toward the 20 recent credits you need. If you have not worked in the last ten years, those old credits alone will not make you covered.
What if I worked in another country?
Work you did outside the United States generally does not count toward Social Security credits, with limited exceptions under totalization agreements between the U.S. and certain other countries. If you worked abroad, contact Social Security to find out whether that work can be credited. You can reach them at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov.
Does my spouse's work history help me may have access to for SSDI?
No. SSDI is based on your own work history and credits, not your spouse's. However, if your spouse is receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you may be able to receive benefits on their record as a spouse or ex-spouse — but that is a different program with different rules.
How often does the quarterly credit amount change?
Social Security adjusts the amount of earnings needed to earn one credit each year, usually in October. The amount goes up with average wage growth. In 2024, you need $1,730 in earnings per quarter to earn one credit. Check ssa.gov each year to see the current amount if you are working toward earning additional credits.