What counts as a work credit

A work credit is a record that Social Security keeps when you earn and pay Social Security taxes on your wages. You earn one credit for every $1,550 you make in a year (this dollar amount changes each year, so the threshold is different depending on when you worked). You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, even if you earn much more than $6,200.

The key point: Social Security does not count how many hours you worked or what job title you held. It counts only the total wages you earned in a calendar year and whether you paid Social Security tax on those wages. If you were self-employed, you paid this tax when you filed your income tax return.

Credits stay on your record permanently. If you earned credits in 2010, they remain there in 2024, even if you did not work for years afterward. Social Security uses the credits you accumulated over your entire work history to decide whether you meet the work requirement for SSDI.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn one credit for every $1,550 you earn in a calendar year, up to four credits per year, and the dollar threshold increases slightly each year.
  • Only wages subject to Social Security tax count toward credits—some government jobs and certain other work may not generate credits.
  • You can check your exact credit count and earnings record by creating an account at ssa.gov and viewing your Social Security Statement.
  • SSDI requires 40 credits total, with 20 of those earned in the 10 years before you became disabled, though younger workers have lower requirements.
  • If your earnings record shows incorrect wages or missing credits, you can request a correction from Social Security with documentation like W-2s or tax returns.

How the dollar threshold works each year

Social Security adjusts the dollar amount needed to earn one credit every January based on average wage growth in the country. In 2024, you need $1,550 in earnings to get one credit. In 2023, it was $1,470. In 2022, it was $1,510. This means the threshold has moved up and down slightly over time.

When you look at your earnings record, Social Security shows you the credits you earned in each year using the threshold that was in effect during that year. You do not recalculate old credits based on today's threshold. A credit you earned in 2010 stays as a credit you earned in 2010, even though the dollar amount needed in 2010 was different from today.

To find the current year's threshold and the thresholds from past years, visit ssa.gov and search for "earnings test" or "substantial gainful activity." Social Security publishes these amounts every year.

Where to find your current credit count

The fastest way to see how many credits you have is to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you log in, you can view your Social Security Statement, which lists your earnings year by year and shows the credits you earned in each year.

Your statement also shows your estimated monthly SSDI payment amount if you were to become disabled today. This estimate is based on your current credit count and your average earnings over your work history. If you have not worked recently, the estimate may be lower than it would be if you continue working.

If you do not have an online account, you can request a paper copy of your Social Security Statement by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office. Allow 2 to 4 weeks for the paper statement to arrive.

What happens if your record has errors

Mistakes on your earnings record can happen. An employer might report your wages under the wrong name or Social Security number, or a wage might not have been reported at all. If you notice missing credits or earnings that seem wrong, you can request a correction.

To correct your record, gather documents that show what you actually earned—W-2 forms, pay stubs, or copies of tax returns you filed. Contact Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office in person. Bring your documents with you. Social Security will investigate and update your record if the documents support the correction.

You have a time limit to request corrections. Generally, you must report a wage error within three years, three months, and 15 days after the year in which you earned the wages. If you are explore for SSDI and notice an error on your record, report it right away so it can be corrected before your case is reviewed.

Credits needed based on your age when disabled

The number of credits you need to meet SSDI's work requirement depends on how old you were when you became disabled. Most people need 40 credits total, with at least 20 of those earned in the 10 years before they became disabled. This is sometimes called the "20/40 rule."

If you became disabled before age 24, you need fewer credits—typically 6 credits earned in the 3 years before you became disabled. If you became disabled between ages 24 and 31, you need credits equal to the number of years from age 21 to the year you became disabled, with at least half of those earned in the years right before disability. Social Security has a chart showing the exact requirement for each age.

To find the specific requirement for your age, visit ssa.gov and search for "work credits for SSDI," or call 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative to explain the requirement for your situation.

Self-employment and credits

If you were self-employed, you still earned credits the same way as W-2 employees—by earning wages and paying Social Security tax. When you file your income tax return as a self-employed person, you pay both the employee and employer portion of Social Security tax (called self-employment tax). This tax generates credits on your Social Security record just like an employer's payroll deduction would.

The earnings threshold is the same for self-employed workers. If you earned $1,550 in net self-employment income in 2024, you earned one credit. The key is that the income must be from work you actually performed—not investment income, rental income, or other passive sources.

If you had a business and paid yourself a salary as a W-2 employee, those wages count toward credits. If you took profits as a self-employed person and reported them on Schedule C of your tax return, the net profit counts toward credits if you paid self-employment tax on it.

Work that does not generate credits

Most jobs in the private sector and most state and local government jobs generate Social Security credits. However, some work does not. Federal government employees hired before 1984 may not have paid Social Security tax and may not have credits from that work. Some railroad workers are covered under a different system. Certain religious groups that are exempt from Social Security tax do not earn credits.

If you worked for a government agency, school district, or nonprofit organization, check your Social Security Statement to see whether credits were recorded for that work. If you believe credits should have been recorded but were not, contact Social Security to investigate.

Work you did before age 18 may not have generated credits if you worked for a parent's business or in certain other situations. Your Social Security Statement will show which years generated credits and which did not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn credits after I become disabled?

No. Once Social Security determines that you are disabled, you stop earning new credits. However, any credits you earned before your disability date remain on your record and count toward the 40 credits needed for SSDI. If you were working when you applied and Social Security approves your case, your credits earned up to your disability date are what matter.

What if I worked in another country?

Work you did outside the United States generally does not generate Social Security credits unless you were a U.S. citizen working for a U.S. employer or a U.S. government agency. Some countries have agreements with Social Security that allow credits earned there to count. Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask whether your foreign work can be credited.

Do I lose credits if I do not work for several years?

No. Credits you earned stay on your record forever. If you earned 30 credits by age 25 and then did not work for 10 years, you still have those 30 credits. However, if you need 40 credits for SSDI, you would still need to earn 10 more credits to meet the requirement, which means you would need to have worked recently enough to earn those additional credits.

How do I know if my earnings are being reported correctly each year?

Check your Social Security Statement once a year. You can view it anytime through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Compare the earnings shown to your W-2 forms or tax returns. If you see a year with no earnings when you know you worked, or earnings that are much lower than you remember, contact Social Security to investigate.

What if I have not worked in the last 10 years?

You may still meet the SSDI work requirement if you earned enough credits before you stopped working. For example, if you earned 40 credits by age 35 and became disabled at age 50, you would meet the requirement even though you have not worked in 15 years. However, if you became disabled recently and have not worked in the last 10 years, you likely do not meet the 20/40 rule and would not be approved for SSDI.