In addition to meeting the definition of “disabled” established by the Social Security Administration (SSA), people applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in Nevada must also meet “work credit” requirements. In brief, every person who works for a living and pays taxes into the Social Security system generates “credits” up to a pre-determined limit each year, and you have to have generated a certain number of these credits before you can be considered eligible for SSDI benefits.
That said, SSDI work credit requirements in Reno are not the same for every applicant, particularly those who become severely disabled many years before they reach what is considered to be retirement age. Here is a basic overview of the normal rules the SSA follows for work credits. If you have questions about what the requirements might be specifically for you, the qualified SSDI lawyers at Shook & Stone could provide the answers and information you need.
How Does the SSA Calculate Work Credits?
Every year, the SSA sets out a different amount of income—in order to adjust for inflation—which someone must earn through wages, salary, self-employment income, or a combination of any of these to acquire one “work credit” for SSDI eligibility in Reno.
It is also worth emphasizing that “work credits” do not come just from earning a certain amount of gross income but rather from paying taxes on that income—typically Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes in particular—into the Social Security system. Therefore, if someone earns the requisite amount of income per year but does not properly pay taxes on it, they may not be able to prove eligibility for SSDI benefits later on.
Different Work Credit Requirements for Different Ages
For most people seeking SSDI benefits in Reno, the lifetime work credit requirement is 40 work credits, with at least 20 of those credits being earned in the 10 years immediately before they first became disabled. Earning greater than 40 work credits over the course of an entire career will not result in a worker receiving increased SSDI benefits should they apply for them later.
Importantly, though, both the minimum requirements mentioned above may change if someone becomes disabled before turning 62. Descending from the age of 60, the minimum requirement of 40 total work credits may be reduced to as low as six credits for someone who becomes permanently disabled before turning 24. As a knowledgeable SSDI attorney could explain, this means the requirement to earn 20 credits in the 10 years prior to becoming disabled may be relaxed as well under certain circumstances.
A Reno Attorney Could Explain SSDI Work Credit Requirements in More Detail
Even if you reach retirement age before becoming disabled, proving eligibility for SSDI benefits based on your work history can be more complex than you might think. Things can get more complicated still if you become disabled well before retirement age, especially if the gap between that point and your current age can be measured in decades.
Either way, help from a skilled legal professional can be essential to understanding and then efficiently demonstrating that you meet SSDI work credit requirements in Reno. Call Shook & Stone today for a free consultation.
