The Two Requirements You Must Meet
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) requires two separate things: you must have a medical condition that meets Social Security's definition of disability, and you must have earned enough work credits in your past jobs. This guide covers what "enough" means and how Social Security counts the credits you've already earned.
Work credits are not the same as years worked. You earn up to four credits per year, and the number of credits you need depends on your age when you become disabled. Someone disabled at 24 needs fewer credits than someone disabled at 50. Social Security looks at your actual earnings record, not at how long you've held a job.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one work credit for every $1,550 you earn in a year (the dollar amount changes annually, so check the current year's threshold with Social Security).
- You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, even if you earn far more than the threshold.
- Most people need 40 credits total, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before they became disabled.
- If you became disabled before age 24, you may need as few as 6 credits earned in the three years before disability began.
- You can check your exact credit count by creating an account on ssa.gov or requesting a Statement of Earnings from Social Security.
How Work Credits Are Earned and Counted
Each time you earn $1,550 in a calendar year, Social Security records one work credit. Earn $3,100 in a year, and you get two credits. Earn $6,200 or more, and you get the maximum of four credits for that year. The $1,550 threshold is adjusted each January, so the amount changes slightly year to year.
Work credits count only toward SSDI if you earned them through jobs where your employer withheld Social Security taxes (called FICA taxes). Self-employment income counts if you paid self-employment tax. Credits from informal work, cash jobs without tax reporting, or work outside the United States generally do not count.
Once you earn a credit, it stays on your record forever. You do not lose credits if you stop working, change jobs, or have years with no earnings. Social Security keeps a running total of every credit you've earned since you began working.
Credit Requirements by Age at Disability
The number of credits you need depends on how old you were when your disability began. Social Security assumes that younger workers have had less time to build up credits, so the requirement is lower.
| Age When Disabled | Total Credits Needed | Credits Needed in Last 10 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Before age 24 | 6 credits | 6 credits in the 3 years before disability |
| Age 24–30 | 12 credits | 8 credits in the 6 years before disability |
| Age 31–42 | 20 credits | 20 credits in the 10 years before disability |
| Age 43 and older | 40 credits | 20 credits in the 10 years before disability |
The "10 years before disability" does not mean the 10 calendar years when ready before you file. It means the 10-year period ending when your disability began, according to Social Security's information. If you file months or years after your condition started, Social Security will use the date they decide your disability began, not the date you filed.
How to Check Your Work Credit Record
The fastest way to see your credits is to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you log in, you can view your Statement of Earnings, which shows every year you've worked and how many credits you earned each year. The account also shows your estimated SSDI benefit amount if you were to become disabled today.
If you do not use online accounts, you can request a Statement of Earnings by mail. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to mail you Form SSA-7050-F, or visit your local Social Security office in person. The mailed statement takes two to four weeks to arrive.
Check your record even if you think you have enough credits. Errors happen—an employer may have reported your earnings under the wrong name or Social Security number, or earnings may not have been posted at all. If you find an error, Social Security can correct it, but you need to report it. Bring your tax returns or W-2 forms as proof.
What Happens If You Do Not Have Enough Credits
If you do not meet the work credit requirement, Social Security will deny your SSDI claim. You cannot receive SSDI benefits, but you may be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead, which is a needs-based program that does not require work credits. SSI has different rules about income and resources, and the benefit amount is usually lower than SSDI.
If you are close to having enough credits, you might wait to file. Each year you continue working, you earn up to four more credits. However, waiting only makes sense if your condition is not yet severe enough to meet Social Security's medical standard, or if you are still working and earning enough to build credits. If you are already unable to work, filing sooner is usually better because benefits can be paid retroactively for up to 12 months before you file.
Credits Earned Outside the United States
Work you did outside the United States generally does not count toward SSDI credits, even if you paid taxes on that income. The main exception is work for the U.S. government or a U.S. employer while you were abroad. If you worked for a foreign employer or were self-employed in another country, those earnings do not create Social Security credits.
If you worked in multiple countries, Social Security has agreements with some nations (called totalization agreements) that may let you combine credits from both countries to meet the requirement. These agreements exist with Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and several others. If you have worked abroad, mention this when you file, and Social Security can tell you whether a totalization agreement applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get SSDI if I have not worked in several years?
Yes, if you earned enough credits before you stopped working. Credits do not expire. However, you must still meet the "recent work" requirement—you need at least 20 credits earned in the 10 years before your disability began. If you stopped working more than 10 years ago, you would not meet this requirement.
Do credits from part-time work count the same as full-time work?
Yes. A credit is based on earnings, not hours. You earn one credit for every $1,550 earned, whether you worked part-time or full-time. Someone who earned $6,200 part-time gets four credits, the same as someone who earned $6,200 full-time.
What if I worked under a different name or Social Security number?
Tell Social Security when you file. Bring documents that show the name change or the old Social Security number you used—a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or old tax returns. Social Security can search their records and combine earnings under both names if you provide proof of the connection.
Do I need to have worked recently to get SSDI?
You need to have earned at least 20 of your required credits in the 10 years before disability began. For someone age 43 or older, that means you need recent work history. For someone younger, the requirement is less strict. If you have not worked in the past 10 years, you would not meet the recent work requirement, regardless of how many total credits you have.