Work Credits Required for SSDI Benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides critical financial support to individuals who can no longer work due to a qualifying disability. Unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is needs-based, SSDI operates as an insurance program funded through payroll taxes. To qualify for SSDI benefits in Kansas or any other state, you must have earned sufficient work credits through your employment history. Understanding the work credit system is essential for determining your eligibility for disability benefits.

Understanding the Work Credit System

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses work credits to determine whether you have contributed enough to the system to qualify for SSDI benefits. You earn work credits by working and paying Social Security taxes through payroll deductions or self-employment taxes.

In 2024, you earn one work credit for each $1,730 in covered earnings, and you can earn a maximum of four credits per year. This dollar amount adjusts annually for inflation. For example, if you earn $6,920 or more in 2024, you will earn the maximum four credits for that year, regardless of when during the year you earned the income.

The work credit system applies uniformly across all states, including Kansas. Whether you worked in Wichita, Topeka, or Overland Park, the credits you earned count toward your SSDI eligibility nationwide.

How Many Work Credits Do You Need for SSDI?

The number of work credits required for SSDI eligibility depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need a total of 40 work credits, with 20 of those credits earned in the last 10 years immediately before your disability began. Since you can earn a maximum of four credits per year, 40 credits represent approximately 10 years of work.

However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits because they have had less time to accumulate them. The SSA uses the following general guidelines:

• Before age 24: You need 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts
• Age 24 to 31: You need credits for working half the time between age 21 and the time you became disabled
• Age 31 or older: You need the standard 40 credits, with 20 earned in the 10 years immediately before disability onset

For example, a 28-year-old Kansas resident who becomes disabled would need approximately 14 credits (3.5 years of work) earned since turning 21. A 45-year-old would need the full 40 credits total, with at least 20 earned between ages 35 and 45.

Recent Work Requirements and the Date Last Insured

Beyond the total number of credits, the "recent work" requirement presents an additional hurdle for many SSDI applicants. This requirement ensures that you have maintained recent attachment to the workforce through ongoing Social Security tax contributions.

Your Date Last Insured (DLI) represents the last date you remain eligible for SSDI benefits based on your work history. Think of it like an insurance policy that expires if you stop paying premiums. If you stop working and earning credits, your SSDI coverage eventually lapses.

For most individuals age 31 or older, you must prove that your disability began before your DLI expires. If you stopped working in 2020 and your DLI expired in 2025, you would need medical evidence demonstrating that your disabling condition existed and prevented substantial gainful activity before 2025, even if you do not apply until 2026.

This timing issue creates significant challenges for Kansas residents and others nationwide who delayed seeking medical treatment, did not realize the severity of their condition, or attempted to continue working despite their impairments. Establishing a disability onset date before your DLI requires thorough medical documentation and often benefits from experienced legal representation.

Special Considerations for Kansas SSDI Applicants

While work credit requirements remain consistent nationwide, Kansas residents face certain practical considerations when pursuing SSDI benefits. Kansas maintains a largely rural economy with significant agricultural employment, and seasonal work patterns common in farming communities can affect work credit accumulation.

Self-employed farmers and ranchers must ensure they pay self-employment taxes to earn work credits. Some Kansas agricultural workers may discover they have gaps in their work credit history if they worked for employers who did not properly report wages or if they earned income not covered by Social Security.

Kansas also has lower-than-average wages in many sectors compared to coastal states. However, because work credits are based on relatively modest earning thresholds rather than percentages of income, Kansas workers can earn their four annual credits just as easily as workers in higher-cost states.

The state has Social Security Administration field offices in major cities including Wichita, Overland Park, Topeka, and Kansas City, where residents can verify their work credit history and discuss their eligibility. Checking your Social Security Statement regularly helps ensure your earnings have been properly credited to your account.

What to Do If You Lack Sufficient Work Credits

If you do not have enough work credits for SSDI, you may have other options for disability benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides need-based assistance to disabled individuals regardless of work history, though it requires meeting strict income and asset limitations.

Some individuals may qualify for SSDI based on a parent's or spouse's work record. Disabled adult children may receive benefits on a parent's record if their disability began before age 22. Widows and widowers may qualify for disabled survivor benefits as early as age 50 if their spouse earned sufficient work credits.

For those close to meeting the work credit threshold, returning to work even briefly may help you qualify. However, attempting to work while severely disabled involves risks, as the SSA may use that work activity as evidence that you are not disabled. Consulting with an experienced disability attorney before making such decisions protects your interests.

Veterans should explore VA disability benefits, which operate independently of the Social Security work credit system. You may qualify for both VA disability and SSDI simultaneously if you meet the separate requirements for each program.

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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