In 2024, $1,730 in earnings equals one credit; you earn four credits after making $6,920 for the year. For eligibility purposes, it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to earn your 40 credits, but practically speaking most people qualify for Social Security after a decade in the workforce.
Join AARP for just $9 per year with a 5-year membership and get a FREE Gift!
Qualification for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) — benefits for people unable to work due to a significant health issue — can require as few as six credits (if you are under 24 years old) and as many as 40 (if you are 62 or over). The specific number depends on the age at which you became disabled.
There is no work requirement for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a safety-net program administered by Social Security that provides cash assistance for people who are over 65, blind or disabled and have very limited income and financial assets.
Andy Markowitz is a writer and editor for AARP, covering Social Security and fraud. He is a former editor of The Prague Post and Baltimore City Paper.
Tracy Thompson is a journalist and editor who has worked for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Washington Post. She is the author of three books and lives with her family in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.
Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition
Already a Member? Login
