How long do I have to work to qualify for Disability?

The amount of years worked that is necessary to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age. Social Security quantifies your work history in terms of work credits. Typically, you will have needed to have worked 5 of the last 10 years to have enough work credits to qualify for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). Usually, you need 20 work credits earned in the last 10 years.

Back to top

Working and Earning Work Credits

There is a chart available to understand how many work credits and years of work are required based on your age. In order to earn work credits, you need to work and pay into Social Security. In 2023, you must earn $1,410 to earn one work credit.

Younger workers can qualify for disability benefits with fewer work credits. If you become disabled before age 24, you must have earned 6 credits in the three years prior to the onset of your disability. If you become disabled between age 24 and 31, you need credits for half the time between age 21 and the onset of your disability. For example, if you become disabled at age 29, you would need four years of prior work, or 16 credits.

You will also need to have worked recently to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. If you worked in your youth but took off 6 years to raise a family, you will no longer qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Most SSDI recipients need to have worked recently, usually any 5 of the past 10 years.

If you have worked intermittently, but have earned income within the past couple of years, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

Back to top

Qualifying When You Have Not Worked

If you haven't worked enough, there is still hope for your claim. You can apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. These benefits are for people of all ages with a severe financial need. Rather than taking into consideration the of years worked and work credits, the SSA will look at your income and assets. If you are within the income limits, then you may will qualify for disability benefits.

Back to top

Other Requirements for Disability

Once you establish if you have worked long enough for SSDI or if you are within the income limits for SSI, you will need to meet the medical requirements. These are the same for both SSI and SSDI.

To medically qualify, you will need to meet a Blue Book listing. The Blue Book is the guide used by the SSA to assess if someone is medically eligible for disability benefits. Within the Blue Book, you can find conditions that qualify for disability benefits and the requirements that need to be met for that specific condition. 

This includes things like specific test results, doctors' notes, medications, treatment options, etc. Look over the Blue Book with your doctor to make sure you medically qualify.

If you do not medically qualify, but are still unable to work due to the condition you are experiencing, there is still hope. You can request a residual functional capacity (RFC) form be completed by a doctor. This form will go over the disabling condition you are experiencing, your symptoms, and how they impact your ability to work.

The RFC will demonstrate that you are unable to work in the field you have been trained to work in, and that there is no other work you can do because of the condition you are experiencing. It will explain how long you can sit and stand, how much you can lift, your ability to understand, remember, and complete tasks, etc.

Back to top

How Many Years Do You Have to Work to Get Social Security?

How many years you have to work in order to get Social Security disability depends on your age and when your disability began. You normally need around 40 work credits in order to qualify for disability, with half of them being earned within the 10 years before your disability began. 

You also must have worked recently to qualify for SSDI benefits. If you worked when you were young and then stopped for 6 years to start and raise a family you won’t qualify for SSDI. 

Most SSDI recipients are usually required to have worked recently, typically any 5 of the last 10 years.

Credits are calculated based on your total wages or income from self-employment income earned each year. The amount of earnings needed for one credit isn’t the same every year. In 2023, you earn one work credit for every $1,470 in earnings. You need to earn $5,880 to gain the maximum of four credits allowed for each year.

Back to top

How Long Do You have to Be Off Work to Get Disability?

You need to be off work for at least 12 months in order to get disability. If you think you will be out of work for at least 12 months or more, you may be able to earn Social Security disability benefits.

You will have to provide sufficient evidence that you won’t be able to work for at least 12 months to qualify for SSDI benefits or SSI to avoid denied benefits. This is called the durational requirement. If the SSA doesn't believe your disability will last at least 12 months, you will be sent a "durational denial" letter. If you are only going to be disabled and unable to work for less than 12 months then you won’t qualify for SSDI benefits.

If you think you will only be out of work for less than 12 months, then you will not be able to qualify for Social Security disability.

In addition to the length of time you have been out of work in order to qualify for SSDI, your accrued work credits and age need to match up, and your disability needs to be listed in the SSA’s Blue Book. The SSA uses its Blue Book as a guide to assess if a person is medically eligible for disability benefits.

If your disability is listed you will need to provide evidence that proves the presence of it such as your doctor’s report, results of relevant medical test results, and success of treatments used to relieve the symptoms of your disability.

Back to top

Can You Get Disability If You Are Unemployed?

You can get disability if you are unemployed, however, there is a limit to how long you have been out of work.

Generally, you need to have earned 20 work credits in the 10 years of working before your disability began. If you have enough work credits, even if you have been unemployed, you may still be able to get disability benefits. 

Back to top

Getting Help With Determining if You Worked Enough

Do you need help determining if you'll qualify for Social Security benefits? You should contact a Social Security attorney or disability advocate. He or she can evaluate your claim and help you start the application process. You can also learn more about your eligibility by filling out a free evaluation form today. 

To find out how much money you could receive each month in disability benefits, use our Social Security Benefits Calculator. 

Back to top

Additional Resources

• What is the Maximum Age to Apply for Social Security Disability?
• When Do I Become Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits?
• What is SSDI

Back to top