Step 1: Understand Work Credits

Work credits are earned by paying Social Security taxes through employment or self-employment. Key points include:

• You earn up to 4 credits per year based on income earnings.
• Amount needed per credit changes annually, so check current thresholds.
• Most adults need a total of 40 credits, but fewer are necessary if younger.

Step 2: Credits Required by Age

The SSA requires different credit amounts based on your disability onset age:

• If you become disabled before age 24, you may qualify with fewer credits earned recently.
• Adults aged 24-30 generally need credits for half the years since age 21.
• Those 31 or older usually need about 20 credits within the past 10 years.

Step 3: Verify Your Employment History

Gather your work history records and ensure:

• Your earnings have been reported to the SSA.
• There are no significant gaps in your reported employment.
• Your Social Security Statement matches your understanding of credits earned.

Step 4: Impact of Recent Work

Recent work activity influences eligibility:

• The SSA focuses on your work in the 10 years before disability.
• Try to maintain consistent work history to qualify for SSDI benefits.
• If you lack enough recent credits, you may not qualify despite a long work history.

Common Issues to Avoid

Beware of these frequent eligibility problems:

• Insufficient work credits due to irregular employment or self-employment.
• Failure to report or update earnings properly.
• Assuming only length of employment counts without considering credit requirements.