Social Security pays benefits to people who cannot work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Federal law requires this very strict definition of disability. While some programs give money to people with partial disability or short-term disability, Social Security does not.
Certain family members of disabled workers also can receive money from Social Security. This is explained in "Can my family get benefits?"
In general, to get disability benefits, you must meet two different earnings tests:
A “recent work” test based on your age at the time you became disabled; and
A “duration of work” test to show that you worked long enough under Social Security.
Certain blind workers have to meet only the “duration of work” test.
The table below shows the rules for how much work you need for the “recent work” test based on your age when your disability began. The rules in this table are based on the calendar quarter in which you turned or will turn a certain age.
The calendar quarters are:
First Quarter: January 1 through March 31
Second Quarter: April 1 through June 30
Third Quarter: July 1 through September 30
Fourth Quarter: October 1 through December 31
IF YOU BECOME DISABLED... THEN YOU GENERALLY NEED:
1.5 years of work during the three-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.
1.5 years of work during the three-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.
Work during five years out of the 10-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.
EXAMPLES OF WORK NEEDED FOR THE "DURATION OF WORK" TEST
If you become disabled...Then you generally need:
Before Age 28...1.5 years of work
Age 30...2 years
Age 34...3 years
Age 38...4 years
Age 42...5 years
Age 44...5.5 years
Age 46...6 years
Age 48...6.5 years
Age 50...7 years
Age 52...7.5 years
Age 54...8 years
Age 56...8.5 years
Age 58...9 years
Age 60...9.6 years