SSDI Work Credits in Utah: What You Need

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is not a program available to everyone who becomes disabled. Unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SSDI is an earned benefit — one tied directly to your work history. Understanding how work credits function is essential before filing a claim in Utah, because a missing credit history is one of the most common and least expected reasons an otherwise valid claim gets denied at the first step of evaluation.

How SSDI Work Credits Are Earned

The Social Security Administration (SSA) measures your work history using a unit called a work credit. Each year, you can earn up to four credits based on your total wages or self-employment income. In 2024, you earn one credit for every $1,730 in covered earnings, meaning you reach the annual maximum of four credits at $6,920 in earned income for the year.

These thresholds adjust slightly each year to reflect wage growth. If you worked in Utah through most of your adult life — whether in industries like healthcare, construction, tourism around national parks, or agriculture — you likely accumulated credits steadily without even thinking about it. Every paycheck from a covered employer contributes to your credit total, and those credits remain on your record permanently.

It is important to note that not all work counts. Federal employees hired before 1984 under the old Civil Service Retirement System, certain railroad workers, and some state and local government employees in Utah who opted out of Social Security coverage may have gaps or gaps in their credit history that could affect eligibility.

How Many Credits You Need to Qualify

The SSA applies two separate credit tests to SSDI applicants — the total credits test and the recent work test. Both must be satisfied.

The total credits test depends on your age at the time you became disabled:

• Before age 24: You need 6 credits earned in the 3 years before disability onset.
• Ages 24–31: You need credits for half the time between age 21 and your disability onset date.
• Age 31 or older: You generally need 20 credits earned in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled, plus a minimum total based on your age at onset.

The recent work test is equally important and often catches people off guard. If you are 31 or older, you must have worked and earned credits in at least 5 of the 10 years immediately before your disability began. A long work history from years past does not satisfy this requirement if you stopped working — or worked in a non-covered job — in recent years. This recency requirement is strict, and the SSA applies it before ever evaluating your medical condition.

Utah-Specific Considerations for Work Credit Eligibility

Utah's workforce has characteristics worth understanding in the context of SSDI work credits. The state has a significant portion of workers in gig economy roles, freelance contracting, and small agricultural operations — all areas where Social Security coverage can be inconsistent or improperly reported.

Self-employed Utahns must pay self-employment tax to earn SSDI credits. If you operated a business and your accountant minimized your net earnings aggressively, or if you failed to file Schedule SE, those years may show little or no credited earnings on your Social Security record. This is a recoverable problem in some cases, but it requires action before the statute of limitations on back taxes closes.

Utah also has a notable population of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who served missions or took extended breaks from paid employment. Those gaps in work history are not penalized beyond the standard credit rules, but they do mean that some claimants in their late 20s and early 30s may find themselves short of the credits needed under the recent work test.

Additionally, Utah's tribal communities have members who may have worked through tribal enterprises. Federally recognized tribal employers are generally covered by Social Security, but employment records from these positions should be verified on your Social Security earnings statement to confirm they were properly reported.

How to Check Your Work Credit Status

Before filing a claim, every prospective SSDI applicant in Utah should review their official Social Security earnings record. You can do this by creating or logging into a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Your earnings history and estimated credit count are displayed there.

Review each year carefully. If any years of employment appear to show zero or unusually low earnings, gather your tax returns, W-2s, or 1099 forms from those years. Correcting an employer's failure to properly report wages can restore missing credits and change the outcome of your entire case.

The SSA allows corrections to earnings records, but older records can be harder to fix. The agency's general rule is that earnings records can be corrected at any time for Social Security purposes, but supporting documentation becomes increasingly difficult to obtain as years pass. Do not wait until you are already disabled to identify and resolve discrepancies.

What Happens If You Do Not Have Enough Credits

If you lack sufficient work credits, SSDI is unavailable to you regardless of how severe your disability is. However, that does not mean you are without options.

• SSI (Supplemental Security Income): SSI is a needs-based program with no work credit requirement. It uses the same medical disability standard as SSDI but evaluates income and assets instead of work history. Many Utahns who cannot qualify for SSDI apply for SSI simultaneously.
• Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Benefits: If you became disabled before age 22 and a parent is deceased or receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you may qualify for benefits on their earnings record — bypassing the work credit requirement entirely.
• Disabled Widow or Widower Benefits: If you are between ages 50 and 60 and became disabled within a specific timeframe after your spouse's death, you may qualify for disability benefits on your deceased spouse's work record.
• Medicaid through Utah: Utahns with disabilities who do not qualify for SSDI may still access healthcare coverage through Medicaid, which has its own eligibility criteria separate from Social Security.

Understanding which program fits your situation requires a careful look at your age, work history, household income, and the timing of your disability. Filing for the wrong program — or failing to file for all programs you qualify for — can cost you months or years of benefits.

Work credits are the foundation of any SSDI claim. Getting them right, verifying them early, and understanding how Utah's workforce patterns may affect your record can mean the difference between a swift approval and a prolonged fight. If your record shows gaps you cannot explain or credits that seem lower than expected, act before you file — not after a denial.

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

Related Articles

• Average SSDI Payment in Mississippi: What to Expect
• Heart Failure and SSDI Benefits in Indiana
• Preparing for Your SSDI Hearing in Montana