Why Work History Matters for SSDI

Unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SSDI is based on the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes you've paid while working. In other words, it's an insurance program—you must have “paid into the system” through work to be eligible.

The SSA uses your work history to determine:

• If you’ve earned enough work credits
• If your work was recent enough
• Whether your past jobs involved Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
• Whether your current disability prevents you from doing past relevant work

Earning Work Credits in Pennsylvania

To qualify for SSDI, you need a specific number of work credits based on your age. In 2025, you earn one credit for each $1,730 in wages or self-employment income, up to four credits per year.

Example:

• If you’re 31 or older: You generally need at least 20 credits in the past 10 years.
• If you’re younger than 31: Fewer credits may be required based on age.

SSA looks at both total credits and recent work (typically within the last 5–10 years) to decide eligibility.

Recent Work Requirement

To be insured, you must have worked recently enough, meaning your earnings occurred fairly close to the time you became disabled. If you worked long ago and haven't paid into Social Security for many years, you may no longer be insured—even if you have a long past work history.

How SSA Reviews Past Relevant Work

SSA also uses your work history to determine if your disability prevents you from doing any jobs you’ve done in the past 15 years. This is called Past Relevant Work (PRW). If you can no longer perform those jobs—due to medical limitations—SSA will move on to assess if there’s any other kind of work you can reasonably do.

Self-Employment and SSDI in Pennsylvania

If you’ve been self-employed, SSA still considers your work history, but uses different criteria. They evaluate whether your self-employment qualifies as SGA and whether it involved physical or mental activities relevant to other work. You’ll need to provide tax records and business documentation to verify your earnings and contributions to Social Security.

Work History Pitfalls That Can Affect SSDI Eligibility

Be aware of the following issues that may impact your SSDI claim:

• Gaps in Employment – Long breaks in your work history can affect your insured status.
• Low Earnings – If your income was too low, you may not have earned enough credits.
• Cash-Only Jobs – Jobs paid under the table typically don’t count unless reported.
• Outdated Work – If you haven’t worked in over 10 years, you may be ineligible.

If you're unsure whether your work history qualifies, speak to a professional before applying.