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Five Things You Need to Know About SSDI Work Credits

If you want to apply for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), you need to make sure you need to have a sufficient amount of work credits to qualify. However, not everyone understands what work credits are, or how you know if you have enough. That is why you should make sure you know these five things about work credits before you apply for SSDI benefits:

 

  1. The number of work credits you need may vary based on age
    • For anyone 31 years old or older, you need to have 40 credits to be able to access SSDI benefits, 20 of which need to have been earned in the last ten years before you applied for disability benefits. However, people between the ages of 24 and 30 can qualify by having enough credits for half the time between when you turned 21 and when you applied for disability benefits. People under the age of 24 can qualify for SSDI with just six credits in the three years before they applied for disability benefits.
  2. You earn work credits by working and paying taxes
    • The way you earn work credits is by earning money via employment or self-employment, which you then pay Social Security taxes on. This means you must either be working as an employee or an independent contractor, or you must be paid income through your own business. The amount of credits you earn is dependent on how much money you make, although most people with regular employment will easily make the maximum number of credits they can earn per year.
  3. You can earn up to four work credits per year
    • You can earn four credits per year, one per financial quarter. As of 2023, one work credit represents $1,640 in covered earnings per financial quarter, or $6,560 for the year. This means that if you earned $6,560 or more for the year, you will get the full four credits for the purposes of qualifying for SSDI.
  4. You can earn all of your work credits for a year all at once
    • That being said, you do not need to be paid that income evenly throughout the year. So long as you make the necessary amount during the year, it will count towards the work credits you receive. For example, if you are unemployed for three of the four fiscal quarters, but receive $7,000 in income for the last fiscal quarter of the year, you will still get the benefit of all four credits.
  5. Even if you don’t have enough work credits, you may have other options
    • If you do not have a sufficient number of work credits, that does not mean you cannot get access to disability benefits. For example, you may be still eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, to know what may work for you, the best thing you can do is speak to a lawyer with experience handling disability benefits claims, who can help you through the process.

If you or a loved one need assistance applying for SSDI or SSI benefits, it is important that you seek the guidance of an experienced Social Security Disability benefits lawyer. The lawyers at Sullivan & Kehoe, LLP have over 50 years of combined experience between its attorneys and are available to you or your loved one in obtaining Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits. To schedule a consultation with our New York Social Security Disability benefits lawyers, call (631) 823-7155.

Camp Lejeune Victims 70% More Likely to Develop Parkinson’s

Veterans and their families who were stationed at Camp Lejeune are about 70% more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease compared to the general population, according to a recent study. This study attributes the high rate of the disease among victims of Camp Lejeune to potential exposure to trichloroethylene, a chemical commonly used in certain industrial processes. This means that veterans who suffer from Parkinson’s may be able to seek disability benefits as a result of their condition.

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Economists Predict Drop in COLA to 3.1% Next Year

In 2023, recipients of Social Security benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) saw a record Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 8.7%. This was the largest increase in the COLA since 1981, a significant increase in the amount of money they received. However, economists are forecasting a much more modest increase of 3.1% this year, as economic conditions begin to settle.

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More Than 500,000 Claims Filed Under PACT Act

The Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA) has announced that more than 500,000 veterans and survivors have filed claims under the PACT Act. This law, which was signed into law in August 2022, was intended to help veterans suffering from illnesses related to toxic exposure. It has also helped more than three million veterans get screenings for toxic exposure, helping them to learn if they may need to file for benefits.

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Five Problems You May Run Into During Your SSDI/SSI Application

The process of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be difficult and long, and any mistake may potentially lead to serious setbacks. If you are careful, however, nearly any problem you encounter can be addressed. Beware these five problems that you may run into while filling out your SSDI or SSI application:

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NIH and VA Announce Study of “Gulf War Syndrome”

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and National Institute of Health (NIH) have announced they will be conducting a five-year long study into the condition known as Gulf War Illness, or Gulf War Syndrome, as it is commonly known. This study is meant to look into the varied symptoms of the illness, which affects nearly a third of the 700,000 people who served during the Gulf War. The goal is to uncover the cause of the disease, and develop treatments for those who have suffered with disabilities related to Gulf War Syndrome.

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Five Things to Do to Prepare For Your DDS Interview

If you successfully get through the first steps of your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you will likely be asked to visit Disability Determination Services (DDS). There, you will be subjected to an interview and medical examination to determine if your condition qualifies you for disability benefits. Here are five things you should do to prepare for your DDS exam:

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Are You Eligible for Veterans Disability Compensation?

It is estimated that nearly five million veterans, or about 27% of all veterans, have some kind of disability related to their military service, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, there are a substantial number of veterans who may be eligible for compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA) who do not currently receive them. So how do you know if you are eligible for veterans disability compensation?

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Five Reasons to Get Legal Assistance For Your SSDI/SSI Application

When people try to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), often they will try to fill out their applications on their own. They may believe that getting legal assistance with their applications is unnecessary, an extra expense on top of everything else they need to fill out their application. However, there are many reasons you may want to get legal assistance with your SSDI or SSI application:

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Five Reasons People Wait Years to Apply for VA Disability Benefits

Most people who apply for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA) do so within a year of being discharged from the service. However, some people may not apply for disability benefits until years afterwards, with some people only seeking benefits decades later. But why might someone want to apply for benefits so long after their military service ended?

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