Work History Required to Qualify for SSDI Benefits
Your work history is a major factor in determining if you are eligible for Social Security Disability insurance benefits.
SSA requires that you pass two different earnings tests to qualify for benefits – a “duration of work” test and a “recent work test.”
The Duration of Work Test
The “duration of work” test reviews your work history. If you paid into Social Security throughout your working life, you are insured for Social Security retirement benefits and will be eligible to start receiving benefits at retirement age. This is one part of the eligibility requirement. You had to have paid into the Social Security system.
The Recent Work Test
Even if you have paid into Social Security (FICA taxes) you won’t qualify for disability benefits unless you have worked approximately five out of 10 years from when you became disabled. You may think this means that you must have worked five years straight to qualify. This is not the case.
The “recent work test” determines if you have earned five-years-worth of wages over the last 10 years before your disability totally removed you from the workforce.
What does this mean?
- SSA divides up years into quarters.
- One quarter equals three months.
- Four quarters equals one year.
- Each quarter has a value.
- You can only earn four quarters in one year.
When SSA says that you must have worked five out of 10 years, they mean you must have accumulated 20 quarters (five years) out of 40 quarters (10 years) to pass the “recent work test.”
You accrue quarters of coverage through wages that qualify for Social Security taxes. SSA also puts a value to one quarter. This value goes up every year.
Here’s an example:
In 2009 the value of one quarter was $1.090. If you earned $2,500 in a two-week period in 2009, you earned two quarters.
However, you can only earn four quarters in one year. So, even if your wages exceeded $4,360 ($1,090 x 4) at any time within 2009, you will still have earned four quarters.
SSA reviews the last 10 years of your work history and counts up the quarters you have earned. If you earned 20 quarters over the ten-year period from when you became disabled, you pass the “recent work test” and will be considered for disability benefits.
Other factors determine if you qualify for SSDI benefits. Find out more about SSDI eligibility.
I applied for social security benefits after suffering a motorcycle accident that left me with 2 broken back bones went back to work and then shortly after that accident I fell and broke my right hip and tibia. I went through the entire process (seeing the doctor they wanted me to see, etc.) i was denied because they said i did not have enough sscredits/quarters. one of the jobs i had was at a county run nursing home and they informed me long after i left that job that they did NOT take out social security taxes. I did know that was even legal for them to do. With my back vetebrate boken plus the hip and tibia broken I am no longer able to work. The hip & tibia exascerbated the back problem. I need some kind of help from someone. They tell me that I will NEVER be eligible for ANY benefits not even Medicare. i am 52 years of age and relie on my husband for support. They told me that he makes too much money for to be eligible for benefits. someone PLEASE contact me via email about this as i am at my wits end..
Sincerely, Mary J. Sutorus email address; stitchnarow12aol.com
Mary,
It does sound like you don’t have enough recent work credits to be insured for Social Security disability and your combined family income is too much to qualify for Supplemental Security Income. Perhaps local social services can provide some help to you. The rules are strict about disablity benefits. If there was a way for you to build up your work credits you could eventually become elligible for Social Security disability but it is difficult to apply on your own. There are also health clinics available to help people with no health insurance, and there may be more hope in getting health insurance with the new law. I don’t know if there is anything else we can do for you but if you would like to talk it through with an Eligibility Consultant please call in to 866-761-5942 for more advice.
Hi Susan,
I wonder if I am still working for 26 yrs if i can get ssdi and work at the same time. because I am disabled as deaf person. that is my question if anyone knows the rules ? let me know thanks…
Tony ..
Antonio,
If you earn below substantial gainful allowance, which is currently $1,000 a month, you could be eligible for SSDI if your disability is impairing your ability to work at any job. Please read our article “Social Security Disabilit Insurance (SSDI) Eligibility” to understand the general rules for being eligible for SSDI.
“In 2009 the value of one quarter was $1.090. If you earned $2,500 in a two-week period in 2009, you earned two quarters.”
What are the 2010 and 2011 values of one quarter?
Robin,
According to the SSA Web site, the value of one quarter for both 2010 and 2011 is $1,120.
I have a question , I was told that I would be able to draw social security from my ex husbands social security since we were married for a total of 10 years and he has never been married since , Is this true ?
Tammy,
It is true, but your full retirement benefit must be less than one-half of your husband’s full retirement benefit. You should contact your local Social Security office to get a better understanding of how this works.
Yes my boyfriend had really done a good job on breaking his leg. And will be out of work for over a year since he broke it. Ssd has denied him saying he’s short 1 credit. Which the disability started 12/5/2010 and they are counting that quarter when it wasn’t even at the end of that quarter. How is this any where near right. And he was a truck driver and dr. Says he will never drive truck again. He is 53 years old and has no other education behind him. Please help cause we are hopeless.
Bridget,
Here is a direct link to the SSA Web site about work credits. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/credits1.htm. It appears that there is no getting around the work criteria for disability benefits eligiblity. You can still call in to talk to an Eligiblity Consultant at 866-347-2910 to discuss this.
Thanks for your informative site!
My question is regarding the ‘Recent Work Test”. My uncle has definitely accumulated enough points for social security per his annual reports. But, he has only worked for 3 years (at his relative high paying job) out of past 10 years. Does this mean he is totally not eligible to apply SSDI? Thanks.
Hi Misty,
In order to be insured for SSDI benefits your uncle must have BOTH recent work credits as well as enough work credits across his working life. To meet the recent work test, an individual who becomes disabled after age 31 must have ample work in 5 years out of the 10 years prior to becoming disabled. This is also referred to as having earned 20 quarters of coverage during a 40 calendar quarter period.
So to recap, your uncle must be both currently insured (enough recent work) and fully insured (enough work throughout his life) in order to be eligible for SSDI. If there is any doubt as to his potential eligibility, he may contact Social Security directly to discuss his earnings record. Hope this helps!
My work record over the last 10 yrs has been sporadic do to my medical issues. Now I am at the point I can no longer work, ( Havent worked for the last yr)..and want to apply for SS disability. But I want to be sure I will pass the required 5yrs out of last 10yrs before applying. I think I have passed this but not sure. HOW CAN I FIND OUT HOW MANY QTRS/YRS I have actually worked according to the social cecurity dept???
Hi Bill,
To find out if you are insured for Social Security Disability benefits, you need to call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 and ask what your date last insured was, or DLI. If you do meet the required quarters of coverage, we can assit you with the complicated application process. Hope this helps.
My 19 year old son does not have a work history to support the income eligibility to qualify for social security disability. He is disabled, but working with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to find work, however his disability continues to prevent him from working. Are there any other resources he can access for disability income?
soy residente estadounidense.tengo problema del thyroide.y no eh trabajado en estados unidos.tengo poco mas de un ano viviendo aqui con mi esposo y mi hijo.cuanto tiempo tengo que trabajar para pedir ayuda
Hello,
I have a question maybe you can help me with. I loss my job back in 2006, started my own business in 2007 the business hasn’t made enought to pay any SS. I had paid into SS from 1969 thru 2006. I just received my yearly statement from SS and now I do not have the credit to receive SSDI due to the work credit rule. If something where to happing me what could I do?
Thanks,
Mike
My daughter is 22 and lives with us. She only worked for a short time when she was 18. She has illnesses that make it that she can’t work. Because of her work history would she not be eligible for SSDI?
Mary,
I recommend contacting the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. I wish you both the best of luck.