How Long Do I Have to Work to Get Disability Benefits?
To qualify for SSD benefits, you need a specific number of work credits. The number of work credits you require depends on your age when your disability commenced. Typically, the SSA requires a minimum of 40 credits—20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year when your disability started / starts. However, younger workers might qualify for disability with fewer work credits. For example, if you have worked 5 of the last 10 years you may have enough work credits to qualify for disability benefits.