SSDI for Part-Time Workers: Do You Have Enough Credits?
TL;DR: Part-time workers can qualify for SSDI if they've earned enough work credits. You only need $7,240 in annual earnings (2026) for all 4 credits in a year. Part-time work below SGA ($1,620/month) doesn't disqualify you from applying. Your SSDI payment amount will be lower than a full-time worker's because it's based on average lifetime earnings. If your payment is very low, concurrent SSI may top it up.
Part-time work absolutely counts toward SSDI eligibility. The credit system is based on total annual earnings, not hours worked. If you earned at least $7,240 in a year through part-time work, you got all four credits for that year.
Credit Accumulation
At $1,810 per credit in 2026, a part-time worker earning $15/hour for 10 hours per week earns about $7,800/year, enough for all 4 credits. Even very part-time workers can accumulate credits over time.
The challenge is meeting the recent work requirement: 20 credits in the last 10 years. Part-time workers who earn all 4 credits each year meet this in 5 years, the same as full-time workers.
Part-Time Work While Applying
You can work part-time while applying for SSDI as long as your earnings are below SGA ($1,620/month). In fact, part-time work below SGA doesn't count against you. But the SSA will examine your work activities to assess your functional capacity. If you're working 20 hours a week at a physically demanding job, it may undermine your claim that you can't work.
Lower Benefit Amounts
SSDI payments are based on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). Years of part-time work produce lower AIME and therefore lower benefits. If your payment is below the SSI federal rate ($967/month), you may qualify for concurrent SSI to bring your total up.
ClaimPath accounts for part-time work history in your application. $79, one time.
Start your application with ClaimPath
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know about ssdi for part-time workers: do you have enough credits??
TL;DR: Part-time workers can qualify for SSDI if they've earned enough work credits. You only need $7,240 in annual earnings (2026) for all 4 credits in a year. Part-time work below SGA ($1,620/month) doesn't disqualify you from applying.
What should I know about credit accumulation?
At $1,810 per credit in 2026, a part-time worker earning $15/hour for 10 hours per week earns about $7,800/year, enough for all 4 credits. Even very part-time workers can accumulate credits over time.
What should I know about part-time work while applying?
You can work part-time while applying for SSDI as long as your earnings are below SGA ($1,620/month). In fact, part-time work below SGA doesn't count against you. But the SSA will examine your work activities to assess your functional capacity.
What are the benefits of lower benefit amounts?
SSDI payments are based on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). Years of part-time work produce lower AIME and therefore lower benefits. If your payment is below the SSI federal rate ($967/month), you may qualify for concurrent SSI to bring your total up.