SSDI Work Credits in North Dakota

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides crucial financial support to North Dakota residents who can no longer work due to a qualifying disability. However, eligibility for these benefits depends on more than just proving you have a disabling condition. You must also have earned sufficient work credits through your employment history. Understanding how work credits function is essential for North Dakota residents seeking SSDI benefits.

Understanding SSDI Work Credits

Work credits are the foundation of SSDI eligibility. These credits are earned through wages subject to Social Security taxes or self-employment income. In 2024, you earn one work credit for each $1,730 in covered earnings, up to a maximum of four credits per year. This dollar amount adjusts annually based on national average wage increases.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) tracks your work credits throughout your entire working career. For most North Dakota workers, this means the system automatically records your credits as you work in jobs where Social Security taxes are withheld. If you are self-employed in North Dakota, your credits are calculated based on your net earnings from self-employment when you file your federal tax returns.

The number of work credits needed to qualify for SSDI depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits total, with 20 of those credits earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. This rule is sometimes called the "recent work test." However, younger workers can qualify with fewer credits because they have had less time to accumulate them.

Age-Based Work Credit Requirements

The SSA recognizes that younger individuals have not had the same opportunity to build up work credits as older workers. The requirements scale based on the age at which your disability begins:

• Before age 24: You need 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts
• Age 24 to 31: You need credits for working half the time between age 21 and when your disability begins
• Age 31 or older: You generally need 20 credits in the 10-year period immediately before your disability starts, plus enough total credits based on your age

For North Dakota residents who became disabled at age 31 or older, the total credit requirement increases with age. At age 42, you need 20 total credits. At age 50, you need 28 credits. At age 60, you need 38 credits. By age 62 or older, you need the full 40 credits.

These requirements apply uniformly across all states, including North Dakota. The federal nature of the SSDI program means that North Dakota residents follow the same work credit rules as applicants in every other state.

Special Considerations for North Dakota Workers

While work credit requirements are federally standardized, certain aspects of North Dakota's economy and workforce may affect how residents accumulate credits. The state's significant agricultural sector means many North Dakota residents work in farming, ranching, or agricultural services. Self-employed farmers must pay self-employment taxes to earn work credits, which requires reporting net farm income on Schedule F of their tax returns.

North Dakota's energy sector, particularly oil and gas extraction, employs many residents in physically demanding jobs. Workers in these industries often face higher risks of disabling injuries or conditions. If you worked in these sectors and become disabled, your work credits earned during that employment count toward your SSDI eligibility.

Seasonal workers are common in North Dakota agriculture and tourism industries. If your employment was seasonal, you can still earn up to four work credits per year, provided you earned enough during your working months. The SSA does not require you to work every quarter; total annual earnings determine your credits for that year.

Checking Your Work Credit Status

Before applying for SSDI benefits in North Dakota, you should verify that you have sufficient work credits. You can check your work credit history through several methods:

• Create a "my Social Security" account at www.ssa.gov to view your earnings record and estimated credits
• Request a Social Security Statement by mail using Form SSA-7004
• Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213
• Visit your local North Dakota Social Security office in person

North Dakota has Social Security offices in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston. These offices can provide personalized assistance in reviewing your work history and determining whether you meet the work credit requirements.

If you discover errors in your earnings record, you should correct them as soon as possible. The SSA has time limits on correcting earnings records, typically three years, three months, and 15 days after the year in which wages were paid. For North Dakota residents who worked in cash-intensive industries or for employers who may not have properly reported wages, checking your record becomes particularly important.

What Happens If You Lack Sufficient Work Credits

If you do not have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI, you may still be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a needs-based program for disabled individuals with limited income and resources. Unlike SSDI, SSI does not require work credits but does have strict financial eligibility requirements.

North Dakota residents should understand that SSI monthly payments are generally lower than SSDI benefits, and SSI eligibility comes with resource limits. As of 2024, you cannot have more than $2,000 in countable resources as an individual or $3,000 as a couple. However, SSI can provide a crucial safety net if your work history is insufficient for SSDI.

Some North Dakota applicants may be close to meeting the work credit requirement. If you are only a few credits short, you might consider whether you can perform any work to earn those additional credits before your condition worsens. This decision requires careful consideration with medical guidance, as attempting to work when you are genuinely unable to do so could harm both your health and your disability claim.

Protecting Your Work Credits Going Forward

Even after you qualify for SSDI, understanding work credits remains important. If you attempt to return to work through the SSA's work incentive programs, you will begin earning work credits again. Should your condition improve and you lose SSDI eligibility, but then your disability returns within five years, you can qualify for expedited reinstatement without needing to reestablish work credits.

For North Dakota residents currently working, protecting your ability to earn work credits means ensuring your employer properly reports your wages and withholds Social Security taxes. Self-employed individuals must file accurate tax returns and pay self-employment taxes. These steps ensure that if you later become disabled, you will have the work history necessary to claim SSDI benefits.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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