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HOW MUCH WORK DO YOU NEED TO BE "INSURED"?
The SSA measures work in "Social Security credits". You can earn up to 4 credits per year based on your annual earnings. The amount of earnings required for a credit increases each year as general wage levels rise.
To be eligible for most types of benefits (such as benefits based on blindness or retirement), you must have earned at least 1 credit for each calendar year between age 21 and the year in which you reach age 62 or become disabled or blind, up to a maximum of 40 credits. A minimum of 6 credits is required regardless of age.
To qualify for Social Security benefits based on a disability other than blindness, you must have worked long enough and recently enough under Social Security. The number of work credits you need for disability benefits depends on your age when you became disabled. You generally need 20 credits earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
The rules are as follows:
Before age 24 You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in the 3year period ending when you disability starts.
Age 24 to 31 You may qualify if you have credit for having worked half the time between age 21 and the time you become disabled.
EXAMPLE:If at age 27 you become disabled, you would need 12 credits in the past 6 years (between age 21 and age 27).
Age 31 and older In general, you will need to have the number of work credits shown in the chart below. At least 20 of the credits must have been earned in the 10 years immediately before you become disabled.
Born After 1929
Become Disabled
at Age |
Credits Needed |
| 31 through 42 |
20 |
| 44 |
22 |
| 46 |
24 |
| 48 |
26 |
| 50 |
28 |
| 52 |
30 |
| 54 |
32 |
| 56 |
34 |
| 58 |
36 |
| 60 |
38 |
| 62 or older |
40 | |
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WHO CAN RECEIVE BENEFITS ON YOUR EARNINGS RECORD?
You can receive Social Security benefits based on your earnings record if you are age 62 or older, or disabled or blind and have enough work credits.
Family members who qualify for benefits on your work record do not need work credits. The following information describes family members who may qualify for benefits on your work record.
If you are receiving retirement or disability benefits, your spouse may qualify if he or she is:
- age 62 and over; or
- divorced and age 62 and over and married to you for at least 10 years prior to your divorce; or
- under age 62 and caring for a child (under age 16 or disabled prior to age 22) who is receiving benefits on your work record.
Your surviving spouse (widow or widower) may qualify if he or she is:
- age 60 or older; or
- age 50 or older and disabled;
- divorced and age 60 or older (age 50 if disabled), and married to you for at least 10 years prior to your divorce; or
- under age 60 caring for a child (under age 16 or disabled prior to age 22) and who is receiving benefits on your earnings record.
Unmarried children (including stepchildren, adopted children and, in some cases, grandchildren and illegitimate children) of disabled, retired, or deceased workers may qualify if they are:
- under age 18 (or between ages 18 and 19 if a full time high school student); or
- over age 18 and disabled before age 22.
Dependent parent(s), age 62 or older, of deceased workers may qualify.
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