If you live in South Carolina and you are applying for SSDI in South Carolina because you are disabled and can’t work you will have to show that you have earned enough work credits to qualify for SSDI. If your application for SSDI in South Carolina is approved, you can use the money that you receive from the SSA to help pay for your living expenses like housing, food, and utilities.
Understanding Work Credits in South Carolina
There are several requirements that you must meet in order to qualify for SSDI in South Carolina. One of the requirements is that you must have earned a certain number of work credits while you were previously working.
What are Work Credits?
Anyone who works and receives a paycheck has money taken from that check that is paid into the Social Security system. Every time you received a paycheck you should have received a paystub that listed how much of your earnings that pay period went to taxes and Social Security.
The number of years that you worked and the amount of money you earned are what the SSA uses to calculate work credits. So, you have been paying into the SSDI system your entire working life. You have a right to apply for SSDI now that you can’t work because you have been paying into the system all the years that you worked.
Workers can earn up to 4 work credits per year. When you apply for SSDI you will need to prove that you have earned the required number of work credits to qualify for SSDI based on your age.
How Work Credits Are Calculated
To calculate work credits the Social Security Administration uses a formula that is based on the number of years you worked and the amount of money you earned. You earn one work credit for every $1,640 you earn, up to a maximum of four credits per year. This means if you earn at least $6,560 in a year, you’ll earn all four credits for that year.
However, your work history also plays a role in how many work credits you need to qualify for SSDI. Generally, you need 40 credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years before your disability.
The Role of Work Credits in Disability Benefits
When someone applies for SSDI they need to show that they have earned work credits so that the SSA knows they have paid into the system while they were working. If you have never worked, you can apply for SSI instead of SSDI.
The SSA wants to be sure that people who can work are working and that only people who are eligible for SSDI in South Carolina are getting disability benefits.
How Many Work Credits Do You Need in South Carolina?
If you worked in South Carolina, the number of work credits you need to qualify for SSDI depends on your age and whether or not you are blind.
Work Credit Requirements by Age
The number of work credits required for SSDI in South Carolina by age are:
- Ages 31 and Older: Generally, you need 40 work credits, with at least 20 earned in the last 10 years before your disability began.
- Ages 24 to 30: You need at least 20 work credits earned in the last 10 years. However, if you are closer to age 24, the number of required credits decreases:
- Age 24: 6 credits in the last 3 years.
- Age 25: 12 credits in the last 3 years.
- Age 26: 18 credits in the last 3 years.
- Age 27: 24 credits in the last 5 years.
- Age 28: 30 credits in the last 5 years.
- Age 29: 36 credits in the last 5 years.
- Ages 18 to 23: You need 6 work credits earned in the last 3 years.
Because the work credit system is based on how long you have worked, people who are younger and haven’t worked as long have a lower work credit requirement than people who are older and have worked longer.
Blind Workers
If you are blind and can’t work, there are special rules that limit the requirements you must meet. You may qualify for SSDI benefits with fewer work credits. If you are blind and have been working but can’t any longer you should speak with a disability attorney to find out more about the work requirements for blind workers.
Recent Work Test & Duration of Work Test
The SSA uses two separate tests to determine if a worker has earned enough recent credits to qualify for SSDI in South Carolina. The Recent Work Test is primarily about how recently you have been employed. The Duration of Work Test ensures you have a sufficient work history over your lifetime
What If You Don’t Meet the Work Requirements in South Carolina?
If you don’t meet the work requirement for SSDI in South Carolina but you are disabled and can’t work you may be eligible for SSI or another type of benefit program from the Social Security Administration.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI may be an option for individuals in South Carolina who don’t meet SSDI work requirements but are still disabled and have limited income and resources. SSI is like SSDI but has no work requirement.
Exceptions and Appeals
If you almost meet all of the work requirements for SSDI in South Carolina but not quite, you can apply for SSDI and when your application is denied you can appeal the denial.
That will give you the chance to explain in more detail why you should get SSDI even though you don’t quite meet all the requirements.
How to Check Your Work Credits
If you want to check how many work credits you have or get more information about your eligibility for SSDI in South Carolina you can go to the SSA’s website and create an account or log into your existing account. Your work credit history and other eligibility details should be listed in your account. You can also visit any SSA office in South Carolina to get help or ask questions.
