Ignorance is bliss.. or is it?: How long do I have to work to qualify for Disability?

How Many Years Do You Have to Work to Get Social Security?

How many years you have to work in order to get Social Security disability depends on your age and when your disability began. You normally need around 40 work credits in order to qualify for disability, with half of them being earned in 10 years before your disability began.

You also must have worked recently to qualify for SSDI benefits. If you worked when you were young and then stopped for 6 years to start and raise a family you won’t qualify for SSDI.

Most SSDI recipients are usually required to have worked recently, typically any 5 of the last 10 years.

Credits are calculated based on your total wages or income from self-employment income earned each year. The amount of earnings needed for one credit isn’t the same every year. In 2023, you earn one work credit for every $1,470 in earnings. You need to earn $5,880 to gain the maximum of four credits allowed for each year.

How Long Do You have to Be Off Work to Get Disability?

You need to be off work for at least 12 months in order to get disability. If you think you will be out of work for at least 12 months or more, you may be able to earn Social Security disability benefits.

You will have to provide sufficient evidence that you won’t be able to work for at least 12 months to qualify for SSDI benefits or SSI to avoid denied benefits. This is called the durational requirement. If the SSA doesn't believe your disability will last at least 12 months, you will be sent a "durational denial" letter. If you are only going to be disabled and unable to work for less than 12 months then you won’t qualify for SSDI benefits.

If you think you will only be out of work for less than 12 months, then you will not be able to qualify for Social Security disability.

In addition to the length of time you have been out of work in order to qualify for SSDI, your accrued work credits and age your disability needs to be listed in the SSA’s Blue Book. The SSA uses its Blue Book as a guide to assess if a person is medically eligible for disability benefits.

If your disability is listed you will need to provide evidence that proves the presence of it such as your doctor’s report, results of relevant medical test results and success of treatments used to relieve the symptoms of your disability.

Can You Get Disability If You Are Unemployed?

You can get disability if you are unemployed, however there is a limit for how long you have been out of work.

Generally, you need to have earned 20 work credits in the 10 years of working before your disability began. If you have enough work credits, even if you have been unemployed, you may still be able to get disability benefits.

Getting Help With Determining if You Worked Enough

Do you need help determining if you'll qualify for Social Security benefits? You should contact a Social Security attorney or disability advocate. He or she can evaluate your claim and help you start the application process. You can also learn more about your eligibility by filling out a free evaluation form today.

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