How are credits earned and how do they affect eligibility for SSDI?
One credit is earned for approximately every $1,000 a worker earns. However, a worker cannot earn more than four credits per year. In order to qualify for SSDI, a claimant needs to have earned 20 credits over a 10 year period. However, if the claimant is under age 24, he or she needs to have earned six credits over a three year period, and if the claimant is between the ages of 24 and 31, he or she needs to have credits for half of the time between age 21 and the age at which he or she becomes disabled.
