To be found eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you must meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) earnings requirement rules.
There are two “earnings tests” that fall under these rules:
- recent work
- duration of work
The Recent Work Test
This test requires you have:
- worked at least five out of the last 10 years
- earned sufficient work credits during that time to qualify for benefits.
And
Generally speaking, one work credit is earned for each quarter of a year in which you worked and paid Social Security taxes on your income. This means you must have a minimum of 20 work credits from the last 10 years to satisfy the recent work test for the SSDI earnings requirement.
The Duration of Work Test
This test is based on your age at the time you become disabled. The test basically requires you worked and paid into the Social Security fund through the payment of Social Security taxes for a long enough time to be covered by SSDI.
In general, the following table shows the age of disability onset and the years of work requirements that are needed for SSDI benefits; however, some applicants are eligible for benefits even if they do not pass this test. This means you should go ahead and apply for benefits, even if you are unsure whether or not you will qualify.
| Age at Disability Onset | Years of Work Required |
| 28 or younger | 1.5 |
| 29 – 33 | 2 |
| 34 – 37 | 3 |
| 38 – 41 | 4 |
| 42 – 43 | 5 |
| 44 – 45 | 5.5 |
| 46 – 47 | 6 |
| 48 – 49 | 6.5 |
| 50 – 51 | 7 |
| 52 – 53 | 7.5 |
| 54 – 55 | 8 |
| 56 – 57 | 8.5 |
| 58 – 59 | 9 |
| 60 – 61 | 9.5 |
| 62 or over | 10 |
