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Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, provides financial assistance to people with a sufficient work history who can no longer work because of a disabling condition. You are only eligible for SSDI if you have a qualifying medical condition expected to last at least a year or result in death and have accrued enough “work credits,” which you earn through working and paying taxes into the system.
Understanding these work credits is critical when applying for SSDI, since many workers are denied benefits simply because they do not meet the credit threshold.
What Are Work Credits?
To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have accrued enough “work credits,” which you earn by working and paying payroll or self-employment taxes. You can earn up to four work credits per year.
Most adults must have at least 40 total work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits, including 20 from the last 10 years before their disability. The amount of income needed to earn a work credit changes yearly, and in 2025, you earn one credit for each $1,810 of income in each quarter of the year. When you’ve earned $7,240, you’ve earned all four possible credits for the year.
The Social Security Administration only considers the 10 years immediately preceding the date you became disabled when determining whether you have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits. Within those 10 years, you must have worked for at least five years or 20 quarters.
SSDI Work Credit Requirements by Age
The number of credits you need to be eligible for benefits depends on your age when your disability begins. While most older adults generally need 40 total credits, including 20 earned in the last 10 years, younger workers may be eligible with fewer credits. Additionally, an adult with a disability that began before age 22 may be eligible for benefits if their parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. A disabled adult child does not need to have ever worked.
To be eligible for disability benefits, you must meet the recent-work and duration-of-work tests. The duration-of-work test sets guidelines for the total time you must have spent working to be eligible for SSDI benefits. It ranges from 1.5 years to 9.5 years, depending on the age at which you developed a disability. The number of credits necessary to meet the recent work test depends on the age at which you became disabled.
- Before age 24: You may be eligible if you have earned six credits in the three years preceding your disability’s onset.
- Age 24-31: You may be eligible if you have credit for working half the time between age 21 and when your disability began.
- Age 31+: You must have at least 20 credits in the 10-year period immediately before your disability began.
How to Check Your Work Credits
Before applying for SSDI benefits, checking your earnings record is important. You can see your earnings record and the number of work credits you’ve acquired on the SSA’s website by creating an account and viewing your Social Security Statement.
You might earn more credits during your lifetime than the minimum number you need to be eligible for benefits. These extra credits do not increase your benefit amount. The average of your earnings over your working years, not the total number of credits you earn, determines how much your monthly payment will be when you receive benefits.
What If You Don’t Have Enough Work Credits?
You cannot get SSDI benefits if you haven’t accrued enough work credits based on your age, duration, and recency of work, but you might qualify for other programs like SSI. Unlike SSDI, SSI eligibility is based on financial need, not work history. SSI provides money to cover basic living expenses like food, clothing, and housing to people over 65 with disabilities or people of any age with disabilities severe enough to prevent working. SSI benefits may be supplemented by state financial assistance programs or workers’ compensation, depending on your circumstances.
Special Rules for Blind Workers or Veterans
The Social Security Administration provides several exceptions for SSDI eligibility for blind workers and military veterans. If you are statutorily blind, you must only meet the duration-of-work test, not the recent-work test. Additionally, the monthly earnings limit for people who are blind is generally higher than the limit that applies to non-blind workers with disabilities. In 2025, the monthly earnings limit for blind workers is $2,700.
The Department of Veterans Affairs also pays disability compensation to veterans with service-connected conditions caused or aggravated by their active military service. This program is separate from Social Security disability. However, depending on your condition, age, and work history, you may be eligible to receive both VA and SSDI benefits.
How to Earn Missing Credits Faster
To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have worked in jobs covered by Social Security and have a medical condition that meets the Social Security Administration’s strict definition of disability. If you don’t have enough work credits to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you can work in covered employment via a full-time job, part-time job, online job, or self-employment to earn missing credits. Remember, you can only earn a maximum of four credits per year.
Common Questions About Work Credits
How often do work credit requirements change?
The earnings needed for one SSDI work credit change annually, adjusting to inflation and rising average wages. However, the number of credits required generally remains the same.
Do self-employed workers earn credits the same way?
Yes, self-employed workers earn credits the same way workers who earn wages do.
How Disability Advice Can Help With SSDI
At Disability Advice, we’re dedicated to providing reliable and up-to-date information about who can get SSDI, how to apply, and your legal protections. We understand how difficult it can be for people and families dealing with disabilities that affect their ability to work. That’s why our experts are committed to making the SSDI process easier to understand and helping you get the benefits you deserve.
Whether you’re just starting to find out if you can get benefits, applying for them, or appealing a claim denial, Disability Advice is here to help you every step of the way.
Contact us for help with your SSDI claim to ensure you have the best odds at receiving compensation.
