Can I get SSDI if I haven't worked in 10 years?

It's unlikely you'll get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) after 10 years without working, as you generally need recent work credits (often 20 out of the last 10 years for adults over 31) for SSDI. However, you might still qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a needs-based program that doesn't require work history but has strict income and resource limits, or potentially benefits based on a spouse's or parent's record.

What happens if you don't have enough credits for Social Security disability?

You cannot get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits on your own work record if you don't have enough work credits, but you might qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. While the SSDI program requires applicants to meet a work credits requirement, the SSI program does not.

What is the 10 year rule for SSDI?

Generally, you must have worked for at least 5 of the last 10 years to qualify for Disability. People under the age of 24 may not need to have worked as long. Sign in and look under “More Benefits” to see if you've worked long enough to qualify.

What happens if you don't work 10 years for Social Security?

The number of credits you need to receive retirement benefits depends on when you were born. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work). If you stop working before you have enough credits to be eligible for benefits, the credits will remain on your Social Security record.

What kind of disability can you get if you've never worked?

SSI is not based on work credits, but is instead a federal program, funded by general tax revenue, designed to help disabled people with little or no income. If you have a work history, you may be eligible for both SSI and SSDI benefits; if you have never held a job, you may still be eligible for SSI benefits.

Can I Receive Social Security Disability if I Haven't Worked in Years?

Can you get SSDI without work history?

You generally cannot get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with no work history because SSDI requires earning "work credits" from paying Social Security taxes, but you might qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a needs-based program for disabled people with limited income and resources, or potentially through a parent's record if disabled before age 22, or as a spouse/widow if applicable, notes Trajector Disability. 

What disqualifies you from getting social security disability?

SSDI benefits are intended as a supplement for people who are unable to work enough to earn a living. An individual will be disqualified from SSDI payments if he or she earns $880 per month or more from working.

How does someone who has never worked collect Social Security?

Yes, you can get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) without a work history, as it's a needs-based program for the blind, disabled, or aged with limited income and resources, unlike Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which requires work credits; you just need to meet medical, income, and asset tests, not job-related contributions, according to the SSA and USA.gov. 

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

Claiming Benefits Too Early

One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.

What is the income limit for SSDI?

SSDI income limits revolve around Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which for 2025 is about $1,620/month for non-blind individuals and $2,700/month for blind individuals; earning over these amounts can stop benefits, but there's a Trial Work Period (TWP) and an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) allowing for work while receiving benefits, with special deductions for disability-related work expenses. These limits change annually, so always check the SSA's latest figures, but the general concept is you can test your work ability without immediate loss of benefits. 

Is it harder to get SSI or SSDI?

Neither SSI nor SSDI is definitively harder overall; they have different hurdles: SSDI is harder due to strict work credit requirements, but has no income/asset limits, while SSI is harder due to strict financial (income/resource) limits, but doesn't need a work history, making it better for those with few resources but little work history. Both use the same tough medical criteria, and initial denials are common for both, often requiring appeals. 

How far back will SSDI go?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can pay back up to 12 months before your application date, plus the time from your application to approval, but you must prove your disability started then, factoring in a mandatory 5-month waiting period from your established onset date (EOD). Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits only go back to the application date itself, not before, as they are needs-based. 

What are three ways a person may become eligible for disability benefits?

A person may become eligible for disability benefits by having a severe medical condition preventing substantial work for over a year, meeting specific work credit history (for SSDI), or having very limited income/resources (for SSI). Key pathways include qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) via work credits, Supplementary Security Income (SSI) through low income/assets, or through employer/private insurance plans for short-term needs. 

What not to do when applying for Social Security disability?

1. 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Filing for.
2. Going into the process uneducated. ...
3. Going at it alone. ...
4. Underestimating the impact of your disability. ...
5. Exaggerating the impact of your disability. ...
6. Being vague about your work history. ...
7. Missing the appeals deadline. ...
8. Giving up.

How many credits do you need for SSDI 2025?

SSDI eligibility is based on your earnings and work history. In 2025, applicants generally need: A total of 40 work credits, with at least 20 of those earned in the last 10 years before the onset of the disability. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits based on their age at the time of disability.

Can I get disability with no Social Security?

Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits provide partial pay when you need time off work for your own disability or family leave. If you are an undocumented worker in California, you can apply for DI and PFL benefits, even if you do not have a Social Security number (SSN).

What is the hardest disability to prove?

Here are the Top Disabilities That Are Difficult To Prove

• Mental Health Conditions. Mental illness stands as one of the most prevalent causes of disability, yet its impact is often underestimated or misunderstood. ...
• Chronic Pain Disorders. ...
• Fibromyalgia. ...
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. ...
• Autoimmune Disorders.

How much do you have to make to get $3,000 a month in Social Security?

To get around $3,000/month in Social Security, you generally need a high earning history, around $100,000-$108,000+ annually over your top 35 years, but waiting to claim until age 70 maximizes this amount, potentially reaching it with lower yearly earnings, say under $70k if you wait long enough, as benefits are based on your highest indexed earnings over 35 years. The exact amount depends heavily on your specific earnings history and the age you start collecting benefits. 

What is happening on March 31, 2025 with Social Security?

At the conclusion of the transition period, on March 31, 2025, SSA will enforce online digital identity proofing and in-person identity proofing. SSA will permit individuals who do not or cannot use the agency's online “my Social Security” services to start their claim for benefits on the telephone.

Can you get SSDI if you've never worked?

No, you cannot get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if you've never worked, as SSDI requires you to have a sufficient work history and paid Social Security (FICA) taxes to earn "work credits". However, you may still qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a separate, needs-based program for disabled individuals with limited income and resources, which does not require a work history. 

Who cannot collect Social Security?

People not eligible for Social Security include those who haven't worked enough to earn 40 credits, certain non-citizens, government employees in non-covered jobs (like some state/local/federal workers), retirees living in specific countries (e.g., Cuba, North Korea), and individuals with certain criminal statuses like fleeing prosecution. Ineligibility often stems from not paying into the system or falling under specific exclusion rules, even if some taxes were paid. 

Do stay at home moms get Social Security?

Yes, stay-at-home moms can get Social Security, primarily through spousal benefits (up to 50% of a working spouse's benefit if married 1 year+) or by drawing on their own work record if they have enough credits (40 quarters/10 years) from past jobs, including military service. They might also get disability (SSDI) if disabled and meeting work credit rules, or dependent benefits while caring for a child under 16 or disabled. 

What gets you denied for disability?

You can be disqualified from disability (like Social Security) for not having enough medical proof, earning too much money ($1,620+/month in 2025 for SSDI), not following doctor's orders, your condition lasting less than a year, the disability being caused by drug/alcohol abuse, or failing to cooperate with the SSA (like attending exams). The core issue is if the condition prevents "Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)" for over a year, with strong, documented evidence.
 

What conditions qualify for adult disability payment?

To get Adult Disability Payment, you must have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, or be terminally ill.

What conditions are not considered a disability?

Conditions like the common cold, minor injuries (broken bones that heal), normal pregnancies, lack of education, old age, or being left-handed aren't disabilities, nor are issues like chronic lateness or irritability unless tied to an underlying condition; generally, a disability must be a severe, long-lasting (12+ months) impairment significantly limiting work or daily life, not just temporary or easily managed.