Do You Have Enough Work Credits for SSDI?
2025 Guide to Eligibility
How Your Work History and Work Credits Impact SSDI Eligibility (2025 Update)
Introduction
Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) involves a lot of paperwork—especially if you're filing on your own. One of the first steps is making sure you have enough work credits to qualify. If you're unsure how many work credits you need, what counts as recent work, or how to document your employment history, this 2025 guide will walk you through it clearly—so you can take the right first steps toward your SSDI benefits.
(If you're just beginning your disability claim journey, don't miss our SSDI Starter Guide for a complete overview!)
What Are Work Credits?
Social Security measures your work history using work credits. You earn these credits by working in jobs covered by Social Security and paying payroll taxes.
In 2025, you earn one work credit for every $1,810 in wages or self-employment income.
You can earn up to four credits per year (so $7,240 in annual earnings gets you the maximum).
The number of credits you need depends on your age when you become disabled.
How Many Work Credits Do You Need for SSDI?
The number of work credits you need depends on your age at the time your disability begins:
Before age 24: You generally need 6 credits earned in the 3 years before your disability.
Age 24 to 30: You may qualify if you earned credits for half the time between age 21 and when you became disabled (for example, if disabled at 27, you need 12 credits).
Age 31 or older: You typically need 40 credits, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years immediately before becoming disabled.
Quick Tip: Most adults need 40 credits total, with 20 earned recently (in the past 10 years).
Always check the latest guidelines at ssa.gov.
Why Does Social Security Ask for Your Work History?
Social Security uses your work history for two main reasons:
To Check Eligibility:
Work credits prove you’ve paid into the system.
You need a minimum number of credits, some earned recently.
To Assess Your Disability:
SSA reviews your recent jobs to see if you can return to your past work.
They also check if your job skills could transfer to other work you might be able to do.
What Is the "Recent Work Test" and "Duration of Work Test"?
SSA applies two tests to your work history:
Recent Work Test: Did you work recently enough before becoming disabled? For most, this means working at least 5 out of the last 10 years.
Duration of Work Test: Have you worked long enough overall during your lifetime? The older you are, the more credits you need.
You must meet both to qualify for SSDI.
What Is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)?
Social Security uses the concept of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to measure your ability to work despite your disability.
In 2025, the SGA limit is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 per month for individuals who are blind.
If you earn more than the SGA amount, Social Security generally considers you capable of engaging in substantial work and therefore not disabled under their rules.
SGA is a crucial factor both during initial eligibility review and continuing disability reviews.
How to Document Your Work History
You’ll need to provide detailed information about your jobs, especially from the last 5 years:
Job titles and descriptions
Employment dates
Employers’ names and addresses
Physical and mental demands of each job
Use the Work History Report (Form SSA-3369) to submit this information. You can also request your official earnings record by filing Form SSA-7050-F4 at ssa.gov.
How to Get Your Work Credit Record from SSA
To see how many work credits you have, create a "my Social Security" account at ssa.gov/myaccount. Once logged in, you can view your detailed earnings record, check your work credits, and see an estimate of your future SSDI or retirement benefits. If you notice any discrepancies, it's important to contact SSA right away to correct your record—mistakes in reported earnings could affect your disability eligibility.
Work Credits for Self-Employed Workers and Off-the-Books Work
If you were self-employed (1099 income) or worked "off the books," your eligibility for work credits depends on how you reported your income:
Self-employed (1099 workers): You earn work credits by reporting your income on your federal tax return and paying Social Security and Medicare taxes through self-employment tax (Schedule SE). If you consistently reported your income and paid these taxes, you should have accumulated work credits just like a traditional employee.
Off-the-books workers: If you were paid under the table and did not report your earnings to the IRS, you generally did not pay Social Security taxes—meaning you likely did not earn work credits for that income. Without official earnings records, SSA will not credit you for that work when determining SSDI eligibility.
For people in these situations, it’s essential to understand the impact on their SSDI application. If you’re concerned about past work history, it’s a good idea to consult with a professional to explore your options, such as qualifying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which does not require work credits.
Common Mistakes People Make About Work History
Assuming part-time work always counts: Only if your earnings meet the annual threshold for credits.
Not realizing employment gaps matter: Especially if they occur close to your disability onset.
Thinking older work history alone is enough: SSA focuses heavily on recent work history, especially under the "recent work test."
What If You Don't Have Enough Work Credits?
If you don't qualify for SSDI because of your work history, you may want to explore:
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Based on financial need, not work history.
Compassionate Allowance programs: These speed up the process for certain severe conditions but still require basic eligibility, including work credits.
Consulting with a professional can help if you're unsure which path fits your situation best.
Quick Facts for 2025
Work credit value: $1,810 per credit; up to four credits per year.
Most adults need 40 credits (20 in the last 10 years).
SSA now focuses heavily on the last 5 years of work history during evaluations.
Jobs lasting under 30 days generally do not need to be reported.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit: $1,620/month (non-blind); $2,700/month (blind).
Final Tips
Be detailed and accurate: Provide complete information about your recent jobs.
Check your earnings record: Make sure your work credits are correctly recorded.
Seek help if needed: Disability attorneys or advocates can help you avoid common mistakes and improve your application’s chance of approval.
Ready to take the next step? Be sure to check out our SSDI Starter Guide for a full checklist and expert tips to strengthen your claim from the beginning.
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Disclaimer & AI Ethical Statement
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult with a licensed attorney or SSA claims representative for personalized guidance.
AI Ethical Statement: This article was generated using reliable sources including SSA.gov, reputable disability advocacy organizations, and expert editing. A human has reviewed and refined all content to ensure accuracy and clarity. Mistakes can happen—please contact us if you spot any corrections needed.
References
Social Security Administration. (2025). How you earn credits (Publication No. 05-10072). https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10072.pdf
Social Security Administration. (2025). Benefits planner: Social Security credits and benefit eligibility. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/credits.html
Social Security Administration. (2025). Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html
