Work History and Social Security Credits

To qualify for SSDI, you must have worked and paid into the Social Security system for a certain number of years. This is determined by work credits, which you earn by working and paying Social Security taxes on your income.

• Work Credits: You can earn up to 4 work credits per year. The number of work credits required depends on your age and when you become disabled. Generally:
• If you are under 24, you need to have earned 6 credits in the 3 years prior to your disability.
• If you are between 24 and 31, you need to have earned a number of credits equal to half the time between age 21 and the time you became disabled.
• If you are 31 or older, you typically need to have earned 20 credits in the 10 years before your disability.

To earn work credits, you need to work a certain number of hours and pay Social Security taxes on your income. The amount of income required to earn a work credit changes each year. For example, in 2025, you need to earn $1,640 in a calendar quarter to receive one credit.

The Severity of Your Disability

In addition to meeting the work history requirement, your disability must be severe enough to prevent you from working. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a strict definition of disability:

• Inability to work: Your disability must be so severe that it prevents you from doing any substantial gainful activity (SGA). SGA is defined as earning more than a certain monthly amount. For 2025, if you earn more than $1,470 per month (or $2,460 if you are blind), you will be considered capable of working and will not be eligible for SSDI benefits.
• Duration of the disability: Your condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Short-term disabilities, or conditions that will improve in a matter of months, do not qualify for SSDI benefits.
• Medically determinable impairment: Your condition must be diagnosed by a qualified medical professional, and the SSA will require medical evidence to substantiate your claim. The SSA uses its Listing of Impairments, which includes a range of medical conditions that automatically qualify for disability if they meet specific criteria.

The SSA’s Disability Criteria (Five-Step Process)

The SSA uses a five-step evaluation process to determine if your disability qualifies for SSDI benefits. Here are the steps:

• Step 1: Are you working?
  If you are working and earning more than the SGA limit, you are not eligible for SSDI. If you are not working or your earnings are below the SGA limit, the SSA moves to the next step.
• Step 2: Is your condition severe?
  Your condition must be severe enough to interfere with your ability to perform basic work activities. If your condition is not considered severe, you will not qualify for SSDI benefits.
• Step 3: Is your condition on the SSA’s Listing of Impairments?
  The SSA has a list of medical conditions, called the Listing of Impairments, that automatically qualify you for SSDI if you meet specific criteria. If your condition is not listed, the SSA will proceed to the next step.
• Step 4: Can you perform your past work?
  The SSA will determine if you are still capable of doing your previous job based on your condition. If you can still perform your past work, you will not qualify for SSDI. If you cannot, the SSA moves to the next step.
• Step 5: Can you do any other type of work?
  If the SSA finds that you cannot do your past work, they will evaluate whether you can do any other type of work. This is based on your age, education, work experience, and transferable skills. If you are unable to perform any other work, you may qualify for SSDI.

Age, Education, and Work Experience

The SSA also considers factors like your age, education, and work experience when determining your ability to adjust to other work. For example, younger workers may be able to adjust to different types of work, while older workers with limited education or job experience may have a harder time adapting.

Citizenship and Residency

To be eligible for SSDI, you must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful resident alien. Non-citizens can qualify if they meet specific criteria, such as being a legal resident and having worked a certain number of years in the U.S.

Not Receiving Other Disability Benefits

If you are already receiving benefits through Workers' Compensation or another disability program, the SSA may reduce your SSDI benefits or not approve your claim. However, SSI benefits (which are separate from SSDI) do not affect each other.