22 plain-English guides on work credits & income, written from public Social Security Administration sources: SSA.gov, the Listing of Impairments, POMS and 20 CFR. Every figure carries the year it applies to, because these rules change and an undated number is worse than no number. Start anywhere in the list below, or use the navigation above to move to a different stage of the process.
- The 12-Month Rule: Lasting Long Enough for SSDI
Understand the SSDI 12-month duration requirement under 20 CFR 404.1509, how SSA evaluates episodic flare-ups, and proving lasting disability.
- The Higher SGA Earnings Limit for Blind Claimants
Statutorily blind SSDI claimants have a higher 2026 SGA earnings limit of $2,830 per month. Learn how SSA evaluates blind work activity and work credits.
- Do Gig Economy and 1099 Jobs Earn SSDI Work Credits?
Rideshare and delivery work earns SSDI work credits when you report net self-employment earnings. Learn how 2026 rules turn 1099 income into insured status.
- Government Pensions and SSDI Work Credits
Learn how non-covered government employment affects SSDI work credits, why some public employees lack Social Security coverage, and what alternatives may exist.
- Higher SGA Limit for Blind SSDI Claimants
Learn how the 2026 blind SGA limit of $2,830 affects SSDI eligibility, how SSA defines statutory blindness, and how earnings are evaluated at Step 1.
- How SSA Calculates Substantial Gainful Activity
SSA starts with gross wages, subtracts subsidies and work costs, and averages uneven months. See how tips, overtime, and raises affect the SGA test.
- Military Service and SSDI Work Credit Rules
Military pay has earned SSDI work credits since 1957, and 1957 through 2001 service adds extra deemed wages. Learn how the 2026 rules treat veterans.
- Proving Disability Before Date Last Insured
If your SSDI insured status expired, you can still qualify by proving your disability began on or before your date last insured with medical evidence.
- Recent Training That Counts Against Disability
Under 20 CFR 404.1564, recent education providing direct entry into skilled work can defeat an SSDI claim under the medical-vocational grid guidelines.
- Self-Employment and SGA: The Three Tests SSA Uses
Learn how SSA evaluates self-employment under 20 CFR 404.1575. Discover the three SGA tests, allowable deductions, and how hours and duties affect claims.
- Self-Employment SGA: SSA's Three Tests
Learn how the Social Security Administration applies three distinct tests to evaluate self-employment and small business work under SSDI SGA rules.
- How Self-Employment Builds SSDI Work Credits
Self-employment builds SSDI credits from net earnings, not gross receipts. See how Schedule SE, the $400 floor, and 2026 credit amounts decide insured status.
- Sheltered Work, Subsidies, and True SGA
Understand how SSA considers employer subsidies and special working conditions when evaluating countable earnings under its 2026 substantial gainful activity rules.
- The 12-Month Duration Rule for SSDI Eligibility
SSDI requires an impairment that has lasted or is expected to last 12 continuous months or result in death. See how SSA applies it at step two.
- The 20-in-10 Rule: SSDI's Recent Work Test
The SSDI 20-in-10 rule requires 20 work credits in the 10 years before disability. Learn how the recent work test applies to your Social Security claim.
- SSDI Work Credits: How Many You Need by Age
How many work credits you need for SSDI in 2026, from the 40-credit rule and the 20-in-10-years test to the smaller counts for workers disabled before 31.
- SSDI Work Credits Under Age 31: Special Rule
How many work credits you need for SSDI before age 31, including the 6-credit rule under 24 and the half-the-years rule from 24 to 31, per SSA rules.
- Statutory Blindness: SSDI Rules and Earnings
Learn how SSA defines statutory blindness under Listings 2.02 and 2.03, higher 2026 blind SGA earnings limits, and work credit exemptions for SSDI.
- Substantial Gainful Activity: The 2026 Monthly Cap
The 2026 SGA limit is $1,690 per month for non-blind SSDI applicants and $2,830 if you are statutorily blind. See what SSA counts against the monthly cap.
- Using Foreign Work Credits for SSDI: Totalization
A totalization agreement can combine United States and foreign work credits when either country alone falls short. Learn the 2026 rules for foreign coverage.
- Unsuccessful Work Attempt: SSDI SGA Rules
Understand how SSA evaluates an unsuccessful work attempt under SSDI rules to ensure brief work efforts do not disqualify your disability application.
- How Work History Gaps Affect SSDI Insured Status
Learn how work history gaps affect SSDI insured status, why the 20/40 rule causes coverage to lapse, and how Date Last Insured governs your claim.