Importance of Work History for Social Security Disability Benefits

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/08/26 - Updated: 2024/09/01
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: U.S. Social Security - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Work history plays an important part in your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. More people are applying for disability benefits, and there's a strong likelihood that people don't understand how their work history factors into this process.

Introduction

As SSDI applications grow, claimants can benefit from understanding the role of their past employment Work history plays an important part in your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. As SSDI applications grow, claimants can benefit from understanding the role of their past employment. You might feel that your injury, disease or condition is obvious enough to make you eligible for disability benefits, but the type and amount of work you've done throughout your career is another major factor in the disability benefits you may receive.

Main Content

The Social Security Administration recently reported that more than 3.3 million people are expected to file for disability benefits in fiscal year 2010, resulting in a 27 percent increase over fiscal year 2008.

More people are applying for disability benefits, and there's a strong likelihood that people don't understand how their work history factors into this process. The SSA follows a five-step sequential process to evaluate applications for disability benefits, and examiners make decisions based on medical documentation, age and work history, among other factors.

SSDI is a federally mandated insurance program overseen by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that operates separately from the retirement and SSI programs. SSDI provides monthly benefits to individuals who are under full retirement age (age 65 or older) and who can no longer work because of a disability (injury, illness or condition) that is expected to last for at least 12 months or is terminal. Individuals must have paid FICA taxes to be eligible. More details are provided in the SSDI Overview on Allsup.com.

Disability Benefits and Four Keys of Work History

To help individuals understand the importance of their work history the following information show how someone's work experience plays in their disability application.

1. Work history indicates if you are currently insured.

As a taxpaying worker, you have been contributing to the federal Social Security Disability Insurance program through your payroll (FICA) taxes. You can look at this like paying your auto insurance premiums. A portion of every paycheck goes to the Social Security Administration's retirement and disability program through those taxes.

One of the basic qualifications when applying for SSDI benefits is that you must be currently insured, which means that you have recently paid into the disability insurance program. Specifically, you must have paid for 20 quarters in the past 10 years to qualify. You can "buy a quarter" by earning a certain amount during a specific calendar year. For example, if you earned $1,090 in 2009, you bought a quarter. If you earned, $1,050 in 2008, you bought a quarter. You can earn up to four quarters in one year. In the past 10 years, you must have purchased at least 20 quarters or more to qualify for SSDI benefits. Individuals disabled before age 31 have lesser requirements.

2. Work history indicates if you are fully insured.

This is a second qualifier that you must meet in order to be considered for SSDI benefits. There are two ways to determine if you are fully insured. The first method is to determine if you have 40 quarters of coverage. (Note: You can earn up to four quarters each year.) Having 40 quarters of coverage means you are fully insured. A second method is to have six quarters of coverage, plus one quarter of coverage for each year after the year you reach age 21. To help illustrate, someone who is 27 years old likely only needs 12 quarters of coverage to be fully insured.

3. Work history is used by the SSA to determine whether you are disabled.

A decision about your disability claims is not solely based on your medical condition. At steps along the way in the SSDI process, federal examiners look at your ability to perform work that you have done in the past as well as your ability to perform any work. In particular, your employment experiences during the past 15 years are the most relevant to the evaluation of your SSDI claim.

4. Work history also is used by the SSA to determine your amount of benefits.

Your employer is required to send the SSA a copy of your W-2 form each year to show the amount of Social Security taxes paid. The SSA tracks your earnings and taxes paid, and when or if the time comes, this information is used to determine your SSDI benefits and retirement benefits.

If you're not certain you are eligible for SSDI based on your work history, you should contact your local Department of Social Security (SSA) to determine if your past work experiences, earnings and current medical conditions qualify you for SSDI benefits.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.