Minnesota Disability Work Credits


How Minnesota disability work credits are earned

While you are working and paying Social Security taxes, you can earn up to a maximum of four disability work credits each year. Over the years Social Security has changed the way you earn work credits.

• Before 1978: Every 3 months employers reported your earnings which Social Security referred to as “quarters of coverage” (credits). During this time period you received a credit if you earned at least $50 in a 3-month calendar quarter.

• 1978 forward: Once a year employers started reporting your earnings. Credits are currently based on your total wages and self-employment income during the entire year. It does not matter when during the year you did the actual work.

The amount of earnings it takes to receive one credit changes each year based on a formula that multiplies $250 by the ratio of the national average wage index for 2006 to that for 1976, or, if larger, the 2007 amount of $1000. In 2008, you have to earn $1,050 to receive one Social Security work credit and $4,200 to get the maximum four disability work credits for the year.

Work Credits Social Security Benefits

The number of work credits Social Security needs for you to have disability benefits varies depending on your age when you become disabled. Generally you need 40 work credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you became disabled. Younger workers with fewer credits may also qualify.

Disability Work Credits Rules:

• Before age 24–You may qualify if you have 6 work credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts.

• Age 24 to 31–You may qualify if you have work credit for working half the time between age 21 and the time you become disabled. For example, if you become disabled at age 27, you would need work credits for 3 years of work (12 credits) out of the past 6 years (between ages 21 and 27).

• Age 31 or older–In general, you need to have the number of work credits shown in the chart below. Unless you are blind, you must have earned at least 20 of the disability work credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.

Born after 1929, Became Disabled at Age: Number of Credits You Need:
31 through 42 20
44 22
46 24
48 26
50 28
52 30
54 32
56 34
58 36
60 38
62 or older 40

If you or a loved one needs help finding out if you have enough disability work credits Minnesota Social Security lawyers at Fields Law Disability Center can help you whether you are getting ready to file your initial application or are appealing a denial.

Fields Law MN Disability Center

We are a Minnesota Disability Law Firm dedicated to helping people in Minnesota get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve.

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