The Social Security Administration pays benefits to people who cannot work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Federal law requires this very strict definition of disability. While some programs give money to people with partial disability or short-term disability, the Social Security Administration does not.Certain family members of disabled workers also can receive money from Social Security. This is explained in “Can my family get benefits?”

How do I meet the earnings requirement for disability benefits?

In general, to get disability benefits, you must meet two different earnings tests:

   - A “recent work” test based on your age at the time you became disabled; and
   - A “duration of work” test to show that you worked long enough under Social Security.

Certain blind workers have to meet only the “duration of work” test.

The table below, shows the rules for how much work you need for the “recent work” test based on your age when your disability began. The rules in this table are based on the calendar quarter in which you turned or will turn a certain age.

The calendar quarters are:

First Quarter: January 1 through March 31
Second Quarter: April 1 through June 30
Third Quarter: July 1 through September 30
Fourth Quarter: October 1 through December 31

Rules for work needed for the “recent work test” If you become disabled… Then you generally need: In or before the quarter you turn age 24 1.5 years of work during the three-year period ending with the quarter your disability began. In the quarter after you turn age 24 but before the quarter you turn age 31 Work during half the time for the period beginning with the quarter after you turned 21 and ending with the quarter you became disabled. Example: If you become disabled in the quarter you turned age 27, then you would need three years of work out of the six-year period ending with the quarter you became disabled. In the quarter you turn age 31 or later Work during five years out of the 10-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.

NOTE: This table does not cover all situations.

Examples of work needed for the “duration of work” test If you become disabled… Then you generally need: Before age 28 1.5 years of work Age 30 2 years Age 34 3 years Age 38 4 years Age 42 5 years Age 44 5.5 years Age 46 6 years Age 48 6.5 years Age 50 7 years Age 52 7.5 years Age 54 8 years Age 56 8.5 years Age 58 9 years Age 60 9.5 years