Attorneys Explain Social Security Work Credits

Ask the Los Angeles Social Security Attorneys:
What Work Credits are Required For Social Security Disability?

Most people to whom our Los Angeles area attorneys speak realize that there are very strict medical qualifications an individual must meet in order to collect Social Security Disability. And our experienced Social Security attorneys have written many articles discussing the types of medical conditions & disabilities that meet the criteria to receive Social Security Disability.

But our attorneys have found that many clients do NOT realize that they must also have to meet “work credit” requirements in order to qualify for Social Security disability. In fact, establishing that you have enough “work credits” is just as important of a requirement as establishing your disability.

Attorneys Explain Social Security Work Credits

In 2017, an individual earns one work credit for every $1,700 they earn in 2017, up to a maximum of 4 work credits for the year.

Every year the amount it takes to earn a work credit changes. In the year 1978 workers received one work credit for every $250 they earned. In the year 2000 the amount you needed to earn for a work credit was $780. But in any year, you can earn only up to four work credits per year.

See the chart below for the dollar amount it took to earn one Social Security work credit for other years.

Amount Needed to Earn One Social Security Work Credit
Los Angeles Social Security Attorneys

How Many Work Credits Do I Need for Social Security Disability?

The number of Social Security work credits you need depends on your age:

If you are disabled before you are 24 years old, you only need six credits (1.5 years of work) in the three years prior to your disability.

If you are disabled between the age of 24 and 30, it gets more complicated. You will need credits for at least half of the amount of time between turning 21 and when you became disabled. For someone who becomes disabled at 27, it has been six years since they turned 21 – so they will need work credits for three years – for a total of 12 work credits. (One half of 6 = 3. Then 3 years x 4 credits = 12 credits)

If you become disabled at 31 or older, you will need at least 20 credits over the last 10 years before you became disability. In other words, you will need to have worked five of the last ten years (5 years x 4 credits = 20 work credits).

Remember, you also cannot be engaged in “substantial gainful activity” in order to collect Social Security Disability. Our attorneys cover the amounts you can earn HERE in a separate article.

Our Los Angeles Area Social Security Attorneys Can Help

If you have questions about applying for Social Security Disability, call our experienced Los Angeles Area Social Security Attorneys. Our attorneys will offer you a FREE CONSULTATION to make sure that you are doing everything possible to speed up your Social Security Disability claim – and make sure that you have the very best chance of being approved for Social Security Disability benefits.

Los Angeles Area Social Security Attorneys: 800-964-8047

Our Los Angeles Area Social Security Attorneys Serve Clients In:

Alhambra, Altadena, Anaheim, Arcadia, Avalon, Baldwin Park, Bel Air, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Carson, Castaic, Century City, Cerritos, Chatsworth, City of Industry, Commerce, Compton, Costa Mesa, Culver City, Downey, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Los Angeles, El Monte, El Segundo, Encino, Gardena, Garden Grove, Glendale, Hawthorne, Hemet, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Huntington Beach, Inland Empire, Irwindale, La Canada Flintridge, La Puente, Laguna Hills, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Maywood, Melrose, Fairfax, Mission Hills, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Montrose, Newhall, North Hollywood, Northridge, Orange County, Oxnard, Palmdale, Palos Verdes, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Porter Ranch, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rolling Hills, Rosemead, San Diego, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Stevenson Ranch, Studio City, Sylmar, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Toluca Lake, Topanga, Torrance, Universal City, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Ventura, West Hollywood, West Los Angeles, Westlake Village, Westminster, Westwood, Whittier, Willow Brook, Wilmington & Woodland Hills.