How To Get SSDI with 20 Credits

[gigi50]

I have many questions on the subject matter:
1) Can you receive ssdi benefits if you have only 20 work credits, currently been out of work for 12 yrs and during the out of work yrs received tanf? If so, how?
2) If I receive SSI now can I request my SSDI benefits after I turn 50 yrs (in 2012)? If so, how?
Remember I've have only 20 work credits
Looking forward to your reply
Thank you

[Dogmatique]

No, you don't meet the requirements for SSDI.

You need 40 credits.

[Janke]

1. no
2. no. When you are 62, you may be able to get retirement Social Security on a spouse or former spouse (if the marriage lasted 10 years) and if that spouse has 40 credits.

You can file a claim at your local office if you want to, and you probably should so someone takes a close look at your earnings record. But you will be denied SSDI.

[JH900]

No, you don't meet the requirements for SSDI.

You need 40 credits.

does this mean the person could be on SSI and earn 4 credits per year ($1,100/credit) over 5 years to make up the difference?

[Janke]

It's possible.

[JH900]

but how much absolute Hell would the SSA put the person through once they figured out they were trying to do that?
No one likes paying out money they don't have to.

[Dogmatique]

Nobody here can speak for SSA

[Janke]

You would have to report your wages every month (and there is a convenient telephone wage reporting system that you could use - talk to a computer in your pajamas); the SSI would be adjusted every month depending upon your verified wages; a notice would be sent every month to tell you how much your SSI would be the following month; budgeting might be harder because of the two month general rule (income from one month would determine payment two months later even if you had already spent the money) but you would have more cash to spend, overall because of the earned income exclusions so it would be easier to set aside a few hundred dollars.

Developmentally disabled adults on SSI earn credits for their work in sheltered workshops and later qualify for SSDI. It is less usual for a person with a non-developmental disability to earn credits this way, but it can happen.

If you want to get full SSI (public assistance benefits) and money from wages, it isn't going to happen. If you think there is a way to hide the wages from SSI and earn credits at the same time, it also isn't going to happen.

If you want to earn Social Security credits, it is possible, but going to work does affect SSI payments. Only you can decide how important those credits are to you. In 13 years, you will be 62 whether you go to work or not.