How do you qualify for Social Security Disability?

Did you work in a Job covered by Social Security Disability?

To qualify for Social Security Disability, you must have worked a job covered by Social Security. Social Security Disability is intended to be much like an insurance policy where you are entitled to benefits if you pay your insurance premiums. To qualify, you must have worked a certain amount of time within recent periods. Unlike workers’ compensation benefits, you do NOT need to have been injured on the job to qualify for Social Security Disability.

With Social Security Disability Insurance, you need to have accumulated “work credits.” Work credits can be acquired by working for an employer covered by Social Security or by being self-employed and paying the mandatory self-employment tax, which includes Social Security premiums.

The amount of work credits you have earned is based on your yearly wages or self-employment income. You need a certain number of credits to qualify for Social Security Disability. The specific number of credits needed depends on your age when you are disabled.   Generally, you need 40 credits to qualify; 20 must have been earned within the last ten years before becoming disabled.  Workers under 24 generally may need as few as six credits earned within the previous three-year period.   Different classifications apply to those aged 24 to 31 and 31 and older.  To determine if you have enough credits to qualify for Social Security Disability, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Sacramento social security attorneys.

Do you have a medical condition covered by Social Security Disability?

In addition to having enough work credits to qualify, you must have a medical condition covered by Social Security Disability. Social Security Disability does not apply to short-term disabilities. You usually have a medical condition that prevents you from working for at least one year or will result in death.

In addition to requiring a disability to be a long-term disability, it must be a disability that prevents you from doing the type of work that you previously did and from doing other types of work (because of your medical condition). This is sometimes referred to as “total disability,” compared to “partial disability,” which does not generally qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

Besides the general provisions above, special provisions may apply if you are blind or have low vision, if you are the workers’ widow or widower, a wounded warrior from military service, or have a disabled child under the age of 18.

If you are suffering from a long-term disability that prevents you from working, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Sacramento social security disability attorneys for a free consultation to see if you qualify for Social Security Disability.