Work Quarters

When you pay taxes from working you pay into the Social Security System. This is also called credits. You get up to 4 credits per year. You need 40 credits to be eligible for Social Security benefits. You may need less if you are younger. Work Credits (quarters of coverage) for 2006: $970 in earnings equals one credit and $3,880 is the maximum earnings needed for four credits in a given year. To be insured for disability, the worker must be fully insured and have at least 20 work credits during the last 40 calendar quarters. In general, if you have worked consistently you are usually covered for SSDI benefits for 5 years after you stop working.