When people can’t work anymore, they are at risk of significant personal and financial hardship. Some people have private long-term disability insurance coverage, but not everyone purchases a policy or receives one as a job benefit.
When an inability to work is the result of a debilitating medical condition, the struggling individual might be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) may provide monthly benefits to people below retirement age who can no longer maintain gainful employment due to lengthy medical challenges.
Professionals may qualify for SSDI benefits when they can no longer work at all because of a medical condition that is either terminal or likely to last for 12 months or longer. There are also work history requirements for those seeking SSDI benefits. How long must people work to qualify?
A decade of work history is necessary
The SSA provides occasional reports to taxpayers advising them of their eligibility for benefits. The SSA tracks payroll contributions and awards people’s credits. A professional can accrue up to four Social Security credits each year.
The SSA grants one credit for every $1,810 a professional earns in 2025, and the earning requirement per credit tends to increase each year. Generally speaking, any employee who earns at least $7,240 annually secures the maximum for credits available.
Typically, SSDI applicants must have at least 40 credits on their record. That is the equivalent of 10 years of employment. The SSA also requires a recent work history when people apply for SSDI benefits.
Professionals who cannot work anymore should have 20 credits from within the last decade when applying for SSDI benefits. Some younger professionals facing unexpected medical challenges may be eligible for SSDI benefits with fewer credits.
There are different rules that apply to workers who are 31 or younger. Even people who work part-time are usually capable of qualifying for SSDI benefits if they have worked consistently over the last decade.
Reviewing eligibility criteria with a skilled legal team can help people as they prepare to apply for SSDI benefits. Applicants who acquire support from legal professionals may have an easier time pursuing benefits than those trying to manage the process on their own.