If I Don't Have Enough Work History Credits, Can I Still Get Benefits?

If you've been told by Social Security that you do not have enough work history credits to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits then there are two different possible solutions for you.

1) Find out your "date last insured" from Social Security and prove that your disability began prior to that date. An experienced Social Security attorney should be able to tell you fairly quickly if you provide them with enough information how likely your chances of success at this are.

If you last worked 15 years ago and only have started seeing a doctor within the past few years, then obviously it's going to be difficult to show that your disability began over 15 years ago. However, if your date last insured was within the past few years and you have significant medical records going back to that time, then your chances of success are much higher.

An attorney that I work with recently was able to prove that her client's disability began in 1989, the case was heard by a judge over twenty years from her date last insured. Although these type of success stories are rare, with the proper documentation, it is certainly possible.

2) If you are unable to prove that you were disabled prior to your date last insured, or you haven't worked enough in your lifetime to have ever had a date last insured, then you may still qualify for disability benefits. Social Security's Supplemental Security Income program is designed for those who are disabled AND have limited income and resources. So, although you may not able to receive SSD, you may qualify for SSI benefits.