Expert: Kyla Kelim - 10/24/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello,I am a 29 year old wife and mother who lives in Georgia.I had a car accident about 5 years ago and already had 2 back surgeries and one of them was a spinal fusion.I had an MRI a few weeks ago and my spine is degenerating and I have another disc herniated where they dont like to fix them.I also have a type of arthritis and have had 2 shoulder sugeries.Total in my life I have had around 13 surgeries and just got diagnosed with diverticulosis which is something you dont get until after 70, but I have it!I am a walking medical book.I called the SS office and they were taking my application over the phone and then they found out my husband makes around $4000 a month take home and they said he makes too much for me to get the benefits. After all our bills we need 2 incomes to make it especially with all my medicine I take.I am on Morphine daily and my doctor said I would be for the rest of my life.I need to work, but it is hard for me to even clean my house I am in such pain.Is there anyway around the income or am I just out of luck? Thanks for your help.

Liz

ANSWER: Liz, if you do not have the work credits, then you won't qualify for social security disability.  Without work credits you could only qualify for SSI if you had a low household income.  I'm sorry but I don't know of anyway around it.

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QUESTION: Oh okay.I actually got a call today about a job so if I take that job and later down the road just cant do it because of my condition then could I qualify? What does work credits mean and how many do you need?Thanks

Liz

Answer
To qualify for disabilty you must have credits for 1/2 the time between age 21 and now, or 16.  After age 31, you will need 20 credits.  You earn 1 credit for each 1,050.00 you earn, up to 4 credits maximum per year.  After age 31, you must have 20 credits within the last 10 years.

See this publication for more details:  http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10072.html

Good luck,

Kyla Kelim