Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federally funded program designed to provide individuals with long-term disabilities scheduled benefit payments so they can maintain their quality of life. SSDI does come with certain criteria that you must fulfill to become eligible — including garnering sufficient work credits to qualify for the benefit payments.
Key Terms:
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance): A government benefit that provides monthly income to people who can’t work due to a long-term disability.
Work Credit: A unit the Social Security Administration uses to measure how much you’ve worked and paid into Social Security, with most people earning up to 4 credits per year based on their income.
Recent Work Rule: Requires that a certain number of your work credits be earned within a specific period just before your disability began, usually at least 20 credits in the 10 years prior to becoming disabled.
What Is a “Work Credit” and How Do You Accumulate Them?
A work credit is a measurement unit used by the Social Security Administration to track how much you’ve worked and contributed to Social Security. You earn work credits by working in a job (or self-employment) where a portion of your earned income is paid into Social Security through payroll taxes.
As of 2025, you earn 1 work credit for every $1,810 in covered earnings paid into Social Security.
Important Notes for Work Credits
You can earn a maximum of 4 credits per year, regardless of how much you earn beyond that threshold. The number of credits you need to qualify for benefits like SSDI depends on your age at the time of disability, but is usually 40 work credits. These credits accumulate over your lifetime but must also meet the “recent work” rules for SSDI eligibility.
How Many Work Credits Do You Need to Be Eligible for SSDI?
For most individuals seeking SSDI, a baseline of 40 credits (about 10 years of work) must be satisfied to be eligible.However, individuals under the age of 24 may require as few as 6 work credits , and those between 24 – 30 may need only 12 – 20 credits.
| Estimated Work Credits by Age | |
|---|---|
| Age Range | Required Credits |
| Under 24 | 6 credits |
| 24 – 30 | 12 – 20 credits |
| 30 + | 40 credits (20 recent) |
The Recent Work Rule for Work Credits and SSDI Eligibility
For most individuals over 30 seeking SSDI, at least 20 of the 40 work credits must have been earned in the 10 years just before your disability began. This rule ensures you were recently engaged in the workforce and actively contributing to Social Security close to the onset of your disability.
Work Credits Are a Necessity for SSDI Eligibility
In summary, most adults filing for SSDI need 40 total credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years; younger workers may qualify with fewer credits based on their age. Work credits are essential for SSDI eligibility because they demonstrate that you’ve paid into the Social Security system.
If you find yourself ineligible for SSDI based on your work-credit history, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You can also review SSI eligibility requirements on SSA.gov.