SSDI applicants need to know that there are 2 important requirements to qualify for Social Security. First, they must have worked and paid enough taxes to SSA.
Second, they must have a qualifying disability that allows them to get monthly benefits from Social Security. So, if you did not have jobs covered by the Administration or your disability does not qualify, you will not be eligible. If you have a qualifying disability, but not enough work credits, you can get SSI.
Number of work credits to get SSDI
In general, you need at least 40 work credits to qualify for Social Security. To get 40 work credits you must have worked for a minimum of 10 years. Having a disability at an early age can make it difficult to become eligible.
As a matter of fact, you must make some earnings to get just 1 work credit. Social Security claimed that you need $1730 in earnings to get 1 credit in 2024. In 2023, it was just $1,640.
Therefore, you will need $6,920 in 2024 to have 4 work credits. Since inflation increases the amount of earnings you need to get Social Security credits, it becomes a little more difficult every year if you have a really low salary.
Number of credits necessary for SSDI by age
The older you are, the more work credits you will need to get SSDI. For instance, if you are 60 years old, you will need almost 10 years, 9.5 years. Quite similar to the number you need at 62.
- filing before the age of 28: 1.5 years of work
- filing at the age of 30: 2 years of work
- filing at the age of 34: 3 years of work
- filing at the age of 38: 4 years of work
- filing at the age of 42: 5 years of work
- filing at the age of 44: 5.5 years of work
- filing at the age of 46: 6 years of work
- filing at the age of 48: 6.5 years of work
- filing at the age of 50: 7 years of work
- filing at the age of 52: 7.5 years of work
- filing at the age of 54: 8 years of work
- filing at the age of 56: 8.5 years of work
- filing at the age of 58: 9 years of work