What is required for someone to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?

To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), individuals must demonstrate a sufficient work history. This requirement means that the person has worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of years. Specifically, they must have earned enough work credits, which are based on their total earnings throughout their career. The required number of work credits often depends on the individual’s age at the time of the disability.

Meeting this work history criterion is essential because SSDI benefits are intended for individuals who have contributed to the Social Security system during their working years. Thus, the focus on work history underscores the program’s nature as an insurance system, where benefits are available to those who have earned them through previous employment. Other options, such as specific income limits, age thresholds, or health insurance specifics, do not directly relate to this primary qualification for SSDI.