What is the number of credits required for fully Status for Social Security disability benefits?

Question:

How is it that work credits expire? And how long does it take before they do start to expire?

Answer:

• The SSA program which concerns “work credits” is Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB or Title II).  To be eligible, an applicant (who is the wage earner) needs “insured” status which depends on the quarters of coverage that have been acquired as a result of gainful, “covered“ employment [FICA taxes].  A “quarter of coverage” is based on 1 of 4 calendar year quarters, i.e. the 3-month time period that ends on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31. 

  A wage earner must have sufficient quarters of coverage to be “fully insured,” and therefore, entitled to DIB.  The maximum quarters of coverage needed is 40, but 6 quarters of coverage are required at a minimum. In addition to being fully insured, the wage earner must also be “currently insured.” This is the part of your question about “expiring credits.” For the period of 40 quarters immediately preceding disability, the wage earner must have a least 20 quarters of coverage in that 40 quarter period. This is the “20/40 rule.” 

  In other words, the wage earner must have worked steadily and fairly recently until disability. Insured status will lapse if she or he stops working, or becomes disabled, and fails to earn quarters of coverage for 20 quarters (about 5 years).  So, if the wage earner did not work steadily during the 40 quarter periods, the insured status lapses sooner than 5 years. The wage earner must be fully insured at the time of becoming eligible in the first full month of becoming disabled. Lapse in insured status means that the wage earner is not eligible for disability insurance benefits. 

  The date that the insured status lapsed becomes critical for establishing that disability began before that lapsed date in order to be eligible for DIB. The SSA field office can compute the wage earner’s date last insured, also known as “DLI”. Note: quarters of coverage are computed differently for younger wage earners.  Read more at https://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/insured.html

206.1When do you have currently insured status?

“Currently insured status” may be all that is needed for you to receive some types of benefits (see �211).

A person is currently insured if he or she has at least six Social Security credits during the full 13-quarter period ending with the calendar quarter in which he or she:

1. Died;

2. Most recently became entitled to disability benefits; or

3. Became entitled to retirement insurance benefits.

(See �201.2 for additional requirements if you are an alien worker and you were assigned an original Social Security number on or after January 1, 2004.)

206.2How is the 13-quarter period determined?

Calendar quarters, all or part of which are in an established prior period of disability, are generally not counted. However, the first or last quarter of the prior period of disability may be counted if the quarter is used as a credit. (For exception, see �209.)

Last Revised: Aug. 9, 2005

208.1 What is special insured status?

“Special insured status” allows an option to the “20 credits in 40 quarters” provision (20/40 rule - See �207). Individuals disabled before age 31 can qualify for disability insurance benefits or establish a period of disability.

(See �201.2 for additional requirements if you are an alien worker and you were assigned an original Social Security number on or after January 1, 2004.)

208.2When do you have special insured status?

You meet the special insured status requirements if, in the quarter your disability is determined to have begun or in a later quarter, you:

1. Have not yet turned 31;

2. Are fully insured as explained in � 203; and

3. Have credits in at least one-half of the calendar quarters:

   1. During the period beginning with the quarter after the quarter you turned 21; and

   2. Ending with the quarter that you became disabled.

The credits must be earned in this period. If the number of elapsing calendar quarters is an odd number, the next lower even number is used.

208.3What is the minimum number of credits you need for special insured status?

You need at least six credits in order to have special insured status. If you became disabled before the quarter you turned 24, you must have six credits in the 12-quarter period ending with the quarter your disability began. In this case, the quarters counted will go back before the quarter in which you turned age 21.

208.4Can you obtain special insured status if you become disabled again at age 31 or older?

If you are age 31 or older and become disabled again, you may obtain special insured status if you meet the following conditions:

1. You had a previous period of disability established before you turned 31;

2. You met and currently meet the special insured requirements (as set out above);

3. You do not meet the 20/40 rule in the quarter your current period of disability begins;

4. You are fully insured as explained in �203.

(See �201.2 for additional requirements if you are an alien worker and you were assigned an original Social Security number on or after January 1, 2004.)

208.5Are there any special provisions for the blind?

A person disabled because of blindness may qualify for entitlement to disability benefits if he or she is fully insured as explained in �203. Blind workers are not required to meet “20 credits in 40 quarters” or “special insured status” tests.

(See �201.2 for additional requirements if you are an alien worker and you were assigned an original Social Security number on or after January 1, 2004.)

Last Revised: Aug. 9, 2005

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