SSDI Work Credits: How Many Do You Need?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program, but whether you live in Chicago, Springfield, or Rockford, the same work credit rules apply. Understanding how many credits you need — and whether you have enough — is the first step in determining your eligibility for monthly disability benefits.

What Are SSDI Work Credits?

Work credits are the Social Security Administration's (SSA) way of measuring your work history. Every year you work and pay Social Security taxes, you accumulate credits based on your earnings. These credits are how the SSA confirms you have contributed to the system and are therefore insured for benefits if you become disabled.

In 2025, you earn one work credit for every $1,810 in covered wages or self-employment income. You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, regardless of how much you earn above that threshold. The dollar amount required per credit adjusts slightly each year to account for wage inflation.

To be clear: credits are not a measure of how long you worked at a single job. A part-time Illinois worker who earns $7,240 in a year still earns the full four credits for that year. What matters is your total covered earnings, not hours worked or employer count.

The Two-Part Credit Requirement

The SSA does not apply a single flat credit requirement to every applicant. Instead, your required credits depend on your age at the time you become disabled. Most adults must satisfy a two-part test:

• Total credits earned: You generally need 40 credits accumulated over your lifetime.
• Recent work requirement: Of those 40 credits, at least 20 must have been earned within the 10-year period immediately before you became disabled.

This recent work requirement is where many Illinois applicants run into problems. Someone who worked steadily in their 20s and 30s but left the workforce to care for a family member, then became disabled at age 50, may have 40 lifetime credits but lack the 20 recent credits needed. The SSA calls this being "uninsured" — you paid into the system but not recently enough to qualify.

The date last insured (DLI) is a critical concept here. Your DLI is the last date on which you are covered for SSDI purposes based on your work history. If your disability began before your DLI, you can still file a valid claim. If it began after, you are no longer eligible for SSDI (though you may still qualify for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI).

Reduced Credit Requirements for Younger Workers

The SSA recognizes that younger workers have not had as many years to accumulate credits. The agency uses a sliding scale for applicants who become disabled before age 31:

• Before age 24: You need only 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability began.
• Ages 24–30: You need credits for half the time between age 21 and the onset of your disability. For example, if you become disabled at 27, that is 6 years, so you need 3 years' worth of credits (12 credits).
• Age 31 or older: The standard 40-credit rule applies, with the 20-in-10 recent work requirement.

For young Illinois workers — including college students or those just entering the labor market — even a few years of part-time work may be enough to qualify if a disabling condition strikes early.

How Illinois Applicants Can Check Their Credit Count

You do not have to guess how many credits you have. The SSA maintains a complete record of your earnings and the credits associated with them. Here are the most reliable ways to verify your standing:

• Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Your online account displays your full earnings history, your estimated credit total, and your current insured status.
• Request a Social Security Statement. You can download this directly from your online account or request a paper copy by mail using Form SSA-7004.
• Contact the SSA directly by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting the local SSA field office serving your Illinois county.

Review your earnings record carefully. Errors are more common than most people expect. If a former employer failed to properly report your wages, or if your self-employment income was miscalculated, those earnings — and the corresponding credits — may be missing from your record. You have the right to correct inaccurate earnings information, and doing so can mean the difference between approval and denial.

When Credits Alone Are Not Enough

Meeting the credit threshold is a threshold question — necessary but not sufficient. Even if you have the required work credits, the SSA must also find that you have a medically determinable impairment that prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA) and that the condition has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months, or result in death.

In Illinois, initial SSDI applications are processed through the Illinois Bureau of Disability Determination Services (DDS), which reviews your medical records, treating physician opinions, and functional assessments on behalf of the SSA. The DDS makes the initial medical determination; the SSA handles the technical eligibility, including your work credits.

If your application is denied — which happens to a significant majority of initial filers — you have the right to appeal. The process moves from reconsideration to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing, and eventually to the Appeals Council and federal court if necessary. At each stage, a properly documented record of both your medical condition and your work history is essential.

Illinois applicants should also be aware that SSDI and SSI are distinct programs. If you lack sufficient work credits for SSDI, SSI may be available based on financial need, without any work history requirement. An attorney can help you evaluate which program — or both — applies to your situation.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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