How Does Your Work History Impact Your Ability To Get SSD Benefits?

When applying for Social Security Disability benefits, you must meet specific requirements set by the Social Security Administration. These requirements include having a qualifying disability and having enough work credits.

According to the SSA, work credits are something you earn as you earn wages through your job. The number of credits you earn depends on how much money you get in each paycheck.

Changes occur regularly

You should note that the required number of work credits and how much money you must earn to get a credit changes every year. In addition, not everyone must have the same number of work credits. How many you need depends on your age at the time you file your application.

Earning credits

You earn work credits through your job or self-employment. You can earn four each year. The amount to earn one credit in 2020, for example, is $1,410.

Meeting requirement

You will need to meet the SSA’s requirement for the number of credits you must have to be eligible for SSD. Most people will have to have 40 credits. In addition, you need to have earned some of those credits within the last 10 years. If you are younger, then you may have a shorter number of years in which you must earn a specific number of credits.

In any case, you need to have a recent work history. If you have not had a job for many years, you may not have enough recent credits to qualify, even if you do have enough credits to meet the total number requirement.