THE SCOOP ON WORK CREDITS AND YOUR DISABILITY CLAIM

To get Social Security disability payments, a person must meet both the technical and medical requirements.  One of the technical requirements is that a person must have worked enough to have accumulated the required number of "quarters of coverage."  A worker may earn 1 credit for each quarter worked, provided minimum earnings were reported.  (In 2017, it requires earnings of $1700 to equal one credit.  In past years, that number was less).  Only 4 credits may be earned in one year.

The minimum number of quarters of coverage depends on the claimant's age at the time disability occurs.



The following chart helps to explain work credits or quarters of coverage:

Age at Disability Onset

The number of credits necessary for SSDI approval varies based on the age at disability onset. Between 20 and 40 work credits are usually necessary for approval, though younger workers may qualify with fewer available credits.
The following table helps explain the work credits one needs based on age at disability onset.

Age at  Disability Onset
 Number of Credits Required
Before 24
 6 credits/quarters
24-30
 4 to 10 credits
31-42
 20 credits
43-61
 20 to 40 credits
62 to full retirement age
 40 credits
When You Earned Your Work Credits

The SSA also requires a recent work history as part of the technical requirements for SSDI.  The following table explains when credits must have been earned, in relation to age at onset of disability:

Onset Age
 Credits Required
 Time Earned
Before 24
 6 credits
 Within the 3 years before disability began
24 - 30
 4 or more credits
 1 credit for each year between age 21 and the age when disability began
31 - 42
 20 credits
 Earned within the 10 years before disability onset
43 - 61
 20 to 40 credits
 1 credit per year between age 21 and the onset of disability, plus at least 20 countable credits must additionally have accumulated in the 10 years just prior to disability
62 to full retirement age
 40 credits
 40 in total, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years just prior to disability

 You will notice that for most claimants, there must be a number of work credits earned in the 10 year period right before the onset of disability.  Therefore, a person who worked a long time ago but not recently may not meet the technical requirement for Social Security disability.

 There is good news.  There is a simple, easy way to find out if you have enough work credits to be insured for SSDI.  Just call the local Social Security office and ask them. 
























 

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