How much must one put into social security in order to be eligible for ssdi?

my friend is disabled... seizures and a lung disorder that has affected her brain. she worked part time for many years as a music teacher, but now has trouble with numbers, memory, and reading at an adult pace. she thinks she is ineligible for social security disability income.

From the Social Security web site -

In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough--and recently enough--under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits.

Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year.

The amount needed for a credit changes from year to year. In 2007, for example, you earn one credit for each $1000 of wages or self-employment income. When you've earned $4,000, you've earned your four credits for the year. In 2008, you will earn one credit for each $1050 of wages or self-employment income. When you've earned $4,200, you've earned your four credits for the year.

The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.

IMPORTANT: Remember that whatever your age is, you must have earned the required number of work credits within a certain period ending with the time you become disabled. Your Social Security Statement shows whether you meet the work requirement at the time it was prepared. If you stop working under Social Security after the date of the Statement, you may not continue to meet the disability work requirement in the future.

i think it is 10 years, contact the social security office
or an attorney who specilizes in that field. good luck.
10 years i believe is 40 quarters.

Someone needs to do paperwork and take it to a SS office for evaluation. Doctors statement stating disability and effects should be submitted with it.

SSDI is based on work experience, how many quarters you work and she would probably not be eligible for it, but, good news. She can apply for SSI and get about as much cash as she would with SSDI. Someone has to file the papers for her. (Call SSA and in form them of her serious condition-she can make you medical power of atty, every hospital has free forms.) She may need to hire an atty to do the hard work, they will take a % of the back pay but none after she begins receiving checks. She will also get a medicaid card and maybe food stamps

40 of the past 50 quarters - effectively 10 of the past 12 1/2 years, of full time work. It ONLY counts quarters that you've paid into social security - so if she's worked "under the table", none of that counts.

I think she's going to have a hard time collecting, also. Not necessarily based on time, but based on what's wrong with her.

your best bet if she is a student is to try this website

http://www.uwo.ca/ombuds/student/disabil...

For a list of ALL applicable services that your friend may be eligible for visit this website:

http://www.canadabenefits.gc.ca/faecsele...

I would've looked into it farther but the second website (better of the two) gives you details based on age as well as where you live within canada.

In order to be "fully insured" for disability, you need to have at least 20 credits in your account within the last ten years (fewer credits may be required for workers in their teens or twenties). It is possible to earn a maximum of 4 credits per year. Over ten years, therefore, you can earn a maximum of 40 credits (4 x 10). If you have earned 20 credits during the ten years prior to the onset of your disability (when you stopped working), you are insured for disability purposes.

For 2006, you need $970 of gross earnings to earn a quarter of credit. Once you earn $3,880 in 2006, you will have earned all four possible credits. Even if you earn the $3,880 all in January, you have maxed out your credits for 2006. For 2007, you need $1,000 of gross earnings to earn a quarter of credit - $4,000 will earn you four credits. Earnings requirements to earn a credit for prior years are as follows:

* 2007 - $1,000 $4,000 for the year
* 2006 - $970, $3,880 for the year
* 2005 - $920, $3,860 for the year
* 2004 - $900, $3,600 for the year

You can find out whether you are insured by filling out and sending in Social Security form SSA-7004 (you will get an earnings and benefit statement back by mail).