Can I Get SSDI Benefits If I Haven't Worked in a Long Time?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal disability program available to people who've worked in the past, but become disabled and can no longer work. To be eligible for SSDI, you must have worked enough in recent years to have paid a significant amount into the Social Security system through FICA or self-employment taxes, so if you've never worked at all, you won't qualify for SSDI on your own employment record.

But if it's just been a while since you've worked, you might still be eligible for SSDI benefits. And another benefit, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), is available to all disabled people who have limited income and assets, regardless of work history. Before you apply for disability benefits, it's important to know about the non-medical requirements of each program, including what to do if you no longer qualify for SSDI or how you can get SSI if you've never worked.

SSDI Works Like Insurance Coverage, Meaning It Can End

People who've been out of work for several years might not qualify for SSDI benefits even if they have extensive medical evidence showing they're severely disabled. That's by design.

The SSDI program was created under Title 2 of the Social Security Act as an "insurance program" against disability (42 U.S.C. §§ 401-433)—that's why it's called "Social Security Disability Insurance." The FICA and self-employment taxes you pay to the Social Security Administration are your premiums for disability insurance coverage (and retirement benefits).

Like all insurance policies, SSDI coverage will lapse after a certain amount of time if you don't pay the premium—in this instance, you stop working and paying Social Security taxes. The date when your federal disability insurance ends is called your date last insured (DLI).

It might seem counterintuitive that you could be denied SSDI after working most of your life and paying thousands or even tens of thousands into the Social Security system. But because SSDI is an insurance program rather than a savings account, if you haven't worked much in the last 10 years, you might find that you're no longer covered.

How Long Does It Take Before SSDI Coverage Ends?

SSDI coverage ends on your DLI, which is calculated using something called "work credits." You earn work credits, unsurprisingly, by working and paying taxes to Social Security. You can earn up to four work credits per year, or one per quarter. The amount of income that counts as a work credit changes every year, but in 2025, one work credit is equal to $1,810 in taxable income.

Work credits don't last forever, which is why SSDI coverage can eventually end. So you'll need to have enough work credits that pass both the "recent work" test and the "duration of work" test to be eligible for SSDI benefits. For more information, check out our in-depth article discussing Social Security work credits and how to obtain them.

Passing the Recent Work Test

To pass the recent work test, you must have earned enough work credits in the years before you file your claim. How many work credits you need and how recently you must have earned them depends on how old you are when you become disabled. (42 U.S.C § 404.130.)

If you're 31 or older, you must meet Social Security's 20/40 requirement. That means you'll need to have earned 20 work credits in the 40 quarters (10 years) immediately before you became disabled. So, if you've worked at least 5 of the last 10 years, you should be covered by SSDI. If you haven't worked in over ten years, you won't be able to get SSDI benefits on your own work record. However, there are exceptions to this rule for workers who become disabled before age 31 and certain blind applicants.

Passing the Duration of Work Test

Social Security's duration of work test measures how much you've worked and paid taxes into the system over your lifetime. The younger you are, the easier it is to pass this test. For example, if you're 28 or younger, you need only have earned six work credits—which means you must have worked at least 1.5 years. But if you're 50, you'll need 28 work credits, which take at least 7 years to earn (4 work credits per year).

You can estimate how many work credits you need to pass the duration of work test by subtracting the year you turned 22 from the year your disability began. The answer is the approximate number of work credits you need to meet the duration requirement. For example, if you turned 22 in 2004 and your disability starts in 2024, you'd need to have earned at least 20 work credits (because 2024 minus 2004 is 20). In this example, you'd need to have worked for at least five years to get 20 work credits.

SSDI Might Cover a Disability That Started a Long Time Ago

Even if you haven't worked for a long time, you might still be eligible for SSDI benefits, depending on when you became disabled. When you apply for disability benefits, Social Security asks you when your impairment began—that is, the date when you could no longer work. Social Security will then try to determine if your impairment qualifies as a disability.

The earliest date that Social Security determines you meet both the medical requirements and the non-medical requirements for disability is your "established onset date." Your onset date must be before your date last insured in order for you to qualify for SSDI. So if your medical impairment has been well-documented since before your insurance coverage lapsed, you may still be able to receive benefits now even if your DLI is in the past.

Can You Get SSDI or SSI Benefits if You Have Never Worked?

If you've never worked, you've never paid Social Security taxes, so you won't be eligible for SSDI on your own. However, some "disabled adult children" may be eligible to receive SSDI benefits based on their parents' work record if their parent is also receiving or is insured for SSDI.

People who are disabled but haven't worked enough (or recently enough) to qualify for SSDI might be able to collect SSI instead, provided they can demonstrate financial need. SSI is the other federal disability benefit program, created under Title 16 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 1381-1385). For SSI purposes, "financial need" means having income and assets below certain low thresholds. You don't have to have ever worked in order to get SSI.

In 2025, you may qualify for SSI if you have countable income under $967 per month as an individual ($1,450 for couples) or countable assets—excluding your primary residence or vehicle—valued at more than $2,000 ($3,000 for couples) You can learn more about the types of resources that count towards these figures in our articles on SSI income limits and how much you can have in assets for SSI.

How to Start Applying for Disability Benefits

If you can't work because of a disability but haven't worked recently or worked much at all, you might have doubts about qualifying for Social Security benefits. But if you think you can prove that your disability onset date was before your SSDI coverage ended, or that you might meet the financial eligibility requirements for SSI benefits, don't hesitate to apply.

The actual process of filing your application is pretty straightforward. You can choose from any of the following methods:

• Apply online at ssa.gov. Filing online has many benefits, such as giving you the option to save your application and return to it later. You'll also receive a confirmation number where you can check your case status.
• Call Social Security's national number at 800-772-1213 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to speak with a representative. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the TTY number at 800-325-0778.
• File in person at your local Social Security field office. You can use the locator tool here to find the office closest to you.

While you don't have to get a lawyer, it may be helpful for you to contact one for some legal insight into how strong your case is and whether you'd be better off applying for SSDI or SSI. Many offer free consultations, and hiring one can be useful if you need to appeal a denial.