I Have Gaps in My Work History. Can I Still Get SSDI?

If you have work history gaps in your SSDI application, it doesn’t mean you won’t get approved. Our Memphis disability firm has helped hundreds of people get the benefits they need, even with inconsistent work history.

Here’s how to approach your SSDI application when you’re in that situation, including how work history impacts your eligibility.

Why Work History Matters in an SSDI Claim

Plenty of people applying for SSDI have had to leave their jobs, reduce their hours, or jump between roles for any number of reasons, including health.

The key is knowing how to explain your work history clearly and honestly, so the Social Security Administration (SSA) understands your situation.

To qualify for SSDI, you need to meet two basic requirements:

  1. You need to have a medical condition that keeps you from working full-time for at least 12 months.
  2. You have to have earned enough work credits through past employment.

Your recent work history helps the SSA decide whether you’re insured under the program and shows how your condition has affected your ability to work over time.

So the issue isn’t whether you had to take time off work. After all, that’s common for people with disabilities. This question is whether you’ve earned enough credits, even with the time off, to qualify for benefits.

Earning Work Credits

You earn work credits by working and paying Social Security taxes. Usually, you get one credit for every $1,730 you earn (as of 2025), and up to four credits per year.

Most people need 40 work credits to qualify for SSDI, with 20 of those earned in the last 10 years, but younger workers may need fewer depending on how old they were when they became disabled.

If this sounds confusing, you’re not alone. These rules trip up a lot of people, especially if you’ve had breaks in employment or worked part-time.

The good news is, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. A disability lawyer can help you review your work history and determine whether you meet the credit requirement before you apply.

Common Reasons for Inconsistent Work History

If your job history includes breaks or irregular patterns, there may be a valid reason related to your health. Some examples include:

  • You had frequent flare-ups or hospital stays
  • You could only handle part-time or temporary work due to symptoms
  • You tried going back to work but couldn’t maintain it
  • You had undiagnosed issues that kept you from staying employed
  • You had to leave jobs because your employer couldn’t accommodate your condition

So if you have work history gaps in your SSDI application, you shouldn’t be ashamed. In fact, if you explain the situation well, it may help back up your claim, because it shows how much your disability has impacted your work life and income.

How to Explain Your Gaps Effectively

When you apply for disability, you don’t have to calculate your own work credits or submit your tax forms. Instead, the SSA pulls your work and earnings history directly from your Social Security tax records – the information your employer reported each year when you paid into the system.

However, you are asked to list your job history for the past 15 years. This includes:

  • Job titles
  • Dates of employment
  • Hours worked per week
  • Duties performed
  • Type of industry/employer

The SSA uses this information to evaluate what kind of work you did and whether you can still perform any of it with your current medical condition.

You don’t have to calculate your own credits. The SSA handles that based on your earnings record. But if you’re not sure how many credits you have or whether you qualify, you can:

  • Log into your My Social Security account to view your earnings and credit totals
  • Ask a disability lawyer to help interpret your record and figure out your eligibility

A qualified SSDI lawyer can also help you spot any mistakes in your earnings record that could affect your claim. Our SSDI team looks for these issues first and helps correct them before it becomes a problem.

How a Lawyer Helps You Make Your Case

We know this process can feel overwhelming, and especially if you’re already dealing with chronic illness, pain, or fatigue. When your work history doesn’t look “perfect” on paper, we help you gather the right evidence and show the SSA the full picture.

At our firm, we work directly with your doctors to support your claim and make sure your past job struggles are explained clearly and respectfully. Whether you’re applying for the first time or appealing a denial, we’re here to make the process easier and less stressful.

You Deserve to Be Heard

You didn’t choose to live with a disability. And your work history doesn’t define your worth or your right to get help now.

A lot of eligibility requirements go into getting SSDI. And a break in employment doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t qualify. That depends a lot more on your credits.

In reality, the SSA actually denies the majority of claims on the first try. After that, you have 60 days to appeal. And that’s the perfect time to find any issues in your original application and fix them with the help of an experienced lawyer.

We do all that and more, including representing you in front of the judge. And we don’t make anything unless and until we win your case. Even then, it’s only a small fraction of your past-due benefits. You keep every penny moving forward.

Reach out today for a free consultation. We’ll go over your work history together, help explain it in a way the SSA understands, and fight to get you the benefits you deserve.