You can receive Social Security payments for being disabled even if you have not retired or reached age 62. You need a certain number of Social Security credits to qualify for this.
• If you become disabled before age 24, you generally need six credits in the three years before you became disabled.
• If you are 24 through 30, you generally need credits for half of the time between age 21 and the time you became disabled, and at least six credits.
• If you are disabled at age 31 or older, you generally need at least 20 credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled. The table shows examples of how many credits you would need if you became disabled at various selected ages.
a. How many credits would you need to qualify for disability if you became disabled at age 28?
b. How many credits would you need to qualify if you became disabled at age 22?
c. Express algebraically the number of credits you would need to qualify if you became disabled at age a, where a > 21 and a < 30.
Age at which you Become Disabled Credits Needed
31 through 42..............................................20
44 ............................................................22
46 ............................................................24
48 ............................................................26
50 ............................................................28
52 ............................................................30
54 ............................................................32
56 ............................................................34
58 ............................................................36
60 ............................................................38
62 or older ..................................................40