Hours of Work Needed for Social Security Disability: How Much Is Required?

Social Security can be a great help to injured workers in the United States. However, in order to qualify for these benefits, there are several requirements you’ll need to meet.  One such requirement is to have reached a certain amount of hours of work needed for Social Security Disability.

What is SSDI?

Social Security Disability Insurance is designed to provide income replacement and financial security to people who have become disabled due to an injury or illness. It provides monthly payments to eligible individuals based on their age and earnings history.

The amount of money that you receive depends on your current age, how long you were insured under Social Security, and whether you worked during any part of those years. The longer you work before applying for disability benefits, the more likely it is that you will get higher benefit amounts.

Who Qualifies For SSDI Benefits?

In order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must first apply for them through the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

Your disability must also meet the following:

1. You are unable to do the work you did before
2. Your work cannot be adjusted due to your injuries
3. Your disability has or will have lasted one year or will result in death

If you meet these minimum requirements, the next step is to look at whether you’ve worked enough hours, recently enough, to qualify for Social Security Disability. This is determined through Social Security work credits.

Credits are based on your wages. In most cases, you need 40 credits to qualify for SSD, and 20 of those credits need to have been earned in the last 10 years. It’s possible to earn up to 4 credits each year.

While this is an average, there are many factors to take into consideration. For instance, younger workers who become disabled often don’t need as many credits to qualify for SSD. That’s why it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney. We can help guide you through your case.

Why do the hours that were worked matter in SSDI?

When determining if you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, the SSA looks at your total number of hours worked over the course of your life. If you haven’t worked enough hours in recent years, then you won’t be able to collect Social Security Disability Insurance.

This is because the SSA only pays out benefits when someone has worked enough hours to earn Social Security Credits. These credits are used to determine your eligibility for SSD.

If you qualify for Social Security Disability, don’t hesitate to speak with someone about your case. At Oxner + Permar, we offer a free consultation to ensure you’re taking the next best steps with your case.