As we have discussed before, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is awarded to workers, employers and self-employed persons who have accumulated the necessary work credits, and have a medical condition that meets or exceeds the Social Security Administration’s listing of disability. But what exactly does the first requirement of work credits mean?

The work credit requirement is tied into your Quarters of Coverage (QC). A QC is a three-month calendar quarter in which a person worked in a job and was insured under the Social Security program. The first quarter runs from January through the end of March, the second quarter is from April through the end of June, the third quarter begins in July and goes through the month of September, and finally the fourth quarter begins in October and runs to the end of December. In 2020, you receive one work credit for each $1,410 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year or one credit per quarter. Each year the amount of earnings needed to acquire a credit changes and often more earnings are needed on your part to secure a credit. Roughly speaking:

• If you become disabled before 24 years of age, you generally need 1½ years of work, or six credits, in the three years before you became disabled.
• If you are 24 through 30 years of age, you generally need credits for half of the time between age 21 and the time you became disabled.
• If you are disabled at 31 years of age or older, you generally need at least 20 credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.

A final noteworthy tidbit is, to receive SSDI benefits, you must have earned at least 20 credits during the last ten years and you must be fully insured. This roughly equates to 20 three month periods of work in which you paid into the Social Security system and have earned enough money to secure a credit. To be fully insured for SSDI benefits, you must have earned at least one credit each year between turning 21 years of age and the year you became disabled, and you must have earned at least six credits. For more details and information, check out our YouTube channel by googling Disability Resolution Videos, or Attorney Walter Hnot videos.

Quarters and Credits by Age: