Many Indiana residents depend on the income from their jobs to support their families and themselves. Some medical conditions, however, can make it impossible to continue to earn a paycheck. If you are unable to work due to an illness or disability, you may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.
Who qualifies for SSDI benefits?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will only pay SSD benefits for people who meet its qualifications. There are two main requirements to qualify for SSD benefits:
- You must have the correct number of work credits.
- Your condition must meet the SSA’s definition of disability.
In this post, we will focus on the first requirement: work credits.
What are work credits?
Anyone who works in a job covered by Social Security will collect up to four work credits per year. The number of credits you receive will depend on your annual wages or self-employment income and the SSA requirements for that year. For example, in 2023, you will receive your four credits for the year if you earn at least $6,560 in wages for the year ($1,640 earned = one credit).
Do I have enough work credits to qualify for SSD benefits?
To qualify for SSD benefits, the SSA will look at what age you were when you developed your disability and determine whether you have enough credits based on that age. For example, a person who developed a qualifying disability at the age of 50 will need 28 credits (four credits over the course of seven years of work). There are different requirements for people who develop a disability before the age of 31 to account for their limited work experience.
You should also keep in mind that credits earned a long time ago may not count. In most cases, people who were over the age of 31 when they developed their disability must have earned at least 20 credits in the 10 years leading up to the disability.
Getting approved for SSD benefits is not easy, even if you meet the necessary qualifications. An attorney can help determine if you meet the criteria and help with the application process.