Disability Insured Status...

Disability means that you are so severely impaired, physically or mentally, that you cannot perform any substantial gainful work. The impairment must be expected to last at least 12 months or to result in earlier death. The determination must be based on medical evidence and is ordinarily made by a government agency in your state. Disability benefits are not payable to persons disabled solely due to alcoholism or drug addiction.

To qualify for disability benefits, you must have earned a minimum number of credits of Social Security coverage. In addition, you must have earned some of these credits in recent years, that is, years preceding the date you became disabled

The following table summarizes the requirements for anyone becoming disabled in 2000.

Year of BirthCredits Required To Qualify for Disability Benefits in 2000

1936-38        40, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1939             39, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1940             38, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1941             37, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1942             36, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1943             35, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1944             34, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1945             33, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1946             32, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1947             31, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1948             30, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1949             29, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1950             28, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1951             27, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1952             26, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1953             25, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1954             24, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1955             23, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1956             22, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1957             21, with 20 earned in last 10 years

1958-69*       20 earned in last 10 years

1970*           19 earned after age 21

1971*           17 earned after age 21

1972*           15 earned after age 21

1973*           13 earned after age 21

1974*           11 earned after age 21

1975*           9 earned after age 21

1976*           7 earned after age 21

After 1976     6 earned in last 3 years

* The figure shown is the maximum number of credits required. Depending on month of birth and month of disability, the number can be up to 3 fewer, with a minimum of 6 credits.