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THE EARNINGS REQUIREMENT

In general, to get disability benefits, you must meet two different earnings tests:

A “recent work” test based on your age at the time you became disabled; and
A “duration of work” test to show that you worked long enough under Social Security.

Certain blind workers have to meet only the “duration of work” test.

The table below, shows the rules for how much work you need for the “recent work” test based on your age when your disability began. The rules in this table are based on the calendar quarter in which you turned or will turn a certain age.

The calendar quarters are:

First Quarter: January 1 through March 31
Second Quarter: April 1 through June 30
Third Quarter: July 1 through September 30
Fourth Quarter: October 1 through December 31

Rules for work needed for the “recent work test”

If you become disabled... Then you generally need:

In or before the quarter you turn age 24 1.5 years of work during the three-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.

In the quarter after you turn age 24 but before the quarter you turn age 31 Work during half the time for the period beginning with the quarter after you turned 21 and ending with the quarter you became disabled.
Example: If you become disabled in the quarter you turned age 27, then you would need three years of work out of the 6-year period ending with the quarter you became disabled.

In the quarter you turn age 31 or later Work during 5 years out of the 10-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.

The following table shows examples of how much work you need to meet the “duration of work test” if you become disabled at various selected ages. For the “duration of work” test, your work does not have to fall within a certain period of time.

NOTE: This table does not cover all situations.

Examples of work needed for the “recent work" test

If you become disabled... Then you generally need:

Before age 28 1.5 years of work

Age 30 2 years

Age 34 3 years

Age 38 4 years

Age 42 5 years

Age 44 5.5 years

Age 46 6 years

Age 48 6.5 years

Age 50 7 years

Age 52 7.5 years

Age 54 8 years

Age 56 8.5 years

Age 58 9 years

Age 60 9.5 years

*If you become disabled...*	*Then you generally need:*
Rules for work needed for the “recent work test”
In or before the quarter you turn age 24	1.5 years of work during the three-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.
In the quarter after you turn age 24 but before the quarter you turn age 31	Work during half the time for the period beginning with the quarter after you turned 21 and ending with the quarter you became disabled. Example: If you become disabled in the quarter you turned age 27, then you would need three years of work out of the 6-year period ending with the quarter you became disabled.
In the quarter you turn age 31 or later	Work during 5 years out of the 10-year period ending with the quarter your disability began.

Examples of work needed for the “recent work" test
*If you become disabled...*	*Then you generally need:*
Before age 28	1.5 years of work
Age 30	2 years
Age 34	3 years
Age 38	4 years
Age 42	5 years
Age 44	5.5 years
Age 46	6 years
Age 48	6.5 years
Age 50	7 years
Age 52	7.5 years
Age 54	8 years
Age 56	8.5 years
Age 58	9 years
Age 60	9.5 years