What work credits are and why Social Security counts them

Work credits are how Social Security measures whether you have worked enough to earn SSDI. You build one credit for every $1,550 you earn in a year (this dollar amount changes each year). You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, no matter how much you earn above that threshold.

Social Security uses work credits to answer a single question: have you paid into the system long enough? SSDI is not a needs-based program—it does not matter if you are poor or rich. It matters whether you have a work history. Work credits prove that history.

You do not have to work for a specific employer or in a specific field. Any job where you pay Social Security taxes counts. Self-employment income counts too, as long as you report it and pay self-employment tax.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn one work credit for every $1,550 you earn in a calendar year, up to four credits per year.
  • Most people need 40 work credits total to may have access to for SSDI, but younger workers may may have access to with fewer.
  • You must have earned at least 20 of your 40 credits in the 10 years before you become disabled.
  • Work credits stay on your record permanently—you do not lose them if you stop working or become disabled.
  • You can check how many credits you have earned by creating a my Social Security account and viewing your earnings record.

How many work credits you need

The standard requirement is 40 work credits, with at least 20 of those earned in the 10 years when ready before you become disabled. This is sometimes called the "20/40 rule."

If you become disabled before age 24, you may need fewer credits. A worker who becomes disabled at age 22 might need only six credits, earned in the three years before disability began. The younger you are, the fewer credits Social Security requires, because you have had less time to work.

The exact number depends on your age at the time you become disabled. Social Security has a chart that shows the requirement for each age. You can find this on the Social Security website, or you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to tell you the requirement for your specific age.

When your work credits were earned matters

Social Security does not just count your total credits—it also looks at when you earned them. This is where the "20/40 rule" comes in. Of your 40 credits, at least 20 must have been earned in the 10-year period before you became disabled.

This rule exists because Social Security wants to know that you have a recent work history. If you worked steadily from age 18 to 30 and then stopped, you would have plenty of credits, but they would be old. If you then became disabled at age 50, those old credits would not be enough on their own.

The 10-year window is measured backward from the date your disability began. If you became disabled on March 15, 2024, the 10-year window runs from March 15, 2014 to March 15, 2024. Credits earned before March 15, 2014 do not count toward the "20 in the last 10 years" requirement, even though they count toward your total of 40.

How to check your work credits

You can see exactly how many work credits you have earned by viewing your Social Security earnings record. The easiest way is to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you log in, you can see your complete earnings history and how many credits you have earned each year.

If you do not want to create an online account, you can request a paper copy of your earnings record by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting your local Social Security office in person. You will need to bring a photo ID and proof of citizenship or legal residency.

When you look at your earnings record, check it for accuracy. If you see years where you earned money but no credits were recorded, or if the earnings amount is wrong, you should report it to Social Security right away. Mistakes on your record can affect your SSDI decision.

Work credits and self-employment income

If you are self-employed, you still earn work credits the same way—one credit for every $1,550 you earn. However, you must report your income on your tax return and pay self-employment tax. Work credits are only awarded for income that you report to the IRS.

Self-employment income is counted differently than W-2 wages for the purpose of earning credits. Social Security looks at your net self-employment income (your income after business expenses) to determine how many credits you earned. If you had a loss in a year, you earned zero credits for that year, even if you were working.

Keep good records of your self-employment income and expenses. If you later explore for SSDI, Social Security will review your tax returns to verify your earnings and the credits you claimed.

Work credits do not disappear if you stop working

Once you earn a work credit, it stays on your record forever. You do not lose credits if you stop working, take time off, or become disabled. This is important because it means you can build credits over many years and then use them later, even if there are gaps in your work history.

For example, if you worked from age 18 to 35 and earned 68 credits, then stopped working and became disabled at age 50, those 68 credits would still be on your record. Social Security would look at whether 20 of them were earned in the 10 years before age 50. If you earned at least 20 credits between ages 40 and 50, you would meet the requirement.

The only way to lose credits is if Social Security corrects an error on your record—for instance, if earnings were recorded under the wrong Social Security number and then corrected. This is rare, but it is another reason to check your earnings record regularly.

What happens if you do not have enough work credits

If you do not have enough work credits, you cannot receive SSDI. Social Security will deny your process based on your work history alone, regardless of how severe your condition is.

However, you may be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead. SSI is a different program that does not require work credits. Instead, it looks at your current income and resources. If you have very little income and few assets, you may may have access to for SSI even if you have no work credits at all. SSI has its own rules and limits, and the monthly payment is usually lower than SSDI.

If you are close to having enough credits—for example, you have 38 credits and need 40—you might be able to work a little longer to earn the remaining credits before you explore. This is a decision to make with a doctor and a financial advisor, since working while disabled can affect your benefits in other ways.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn work credits after I become disabled?

Yes. If you continue to work after becoming disabled, you can continue to earn work credits. However, if you are receiving SSDI, there are limits on how much you can earn before your benefits are reduced or stopped. The limits change each year, so check with Social Security about the current amount.

Do work credits from other countries count?

Generally, no. Social Security only counts work credits earned in the United States. However, the U.S. has agreements with some countries that allow work done there to count toward U.S. Social Security. If you have worked outside the U.S., ask Social Security whether your foreign work can be credited.

What if I have a gap in my work history?

Gaps do not erase your credits. If you earned 20 credits between ages 25 and 30, then did not work for 10 years, those 20 credits are still there. However, if you become disabled at age 50, Social Security will check whether you earned at least 20 credits in the 10 years before age 50. The old credits would not count toward that requirement.

How do I know if I have enough credits for my age?

The requirement depends on your exact age when you become disabled. Social Security publishes a chart showing the requirement for each age. You can view it on ssa.gov, or call 1-800-772-1213 and tell them your birth date. They will tell you exactly how many credits you need.

Do I need to work continuously to keep my credits?

No. Once you earn a credit, it stays on your record even if you never work again. You do not need to work continuously or maintain any minimum level of work to keep the credits you have already earned.