To qualify for Social Security disability benefits , you must first have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. Then you must have a medical condition that meets Social Security's definition of disability. In general , we pay monthly benefits to people who are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability. Benefits usually continue until you are able to work again on a regular basis. There are also a number of special rules, called " work incentives, " that provide continued benefits and health care coverage to help you make the transition back to work. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, your disability benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits , but the amount remains the same. 

How Much Work Do You Need? 
In addition to meeting our definition of disability , you must have worked long enough and recently enough under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits. Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self - employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year. The amount needed for a work credit changes from year to year. In 2019 , for example , you earn one credit for each $1,360 in wages or self - employment income. When you've earned $5,440 , you've earned your four credits for the year. The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally , you need 40 credits , 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However , younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. For more information on whether you qualify , read our publication ; How You Earn Credits. 

What We Mean By Disability 
The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short - term disability. We consider you disabled unde

user: Is there anything I should know as someone with a blindness disability?

assistant: Yes, we consider a person to be legally blind if their vision can't be corrected to better than 20/200 in their better eye or if their visual field is 20 degrees or less, even with a corrective lens.

user: So, what if I don't meet the lagal definition of blindness?

assistant: You could still qualify for disability benefits if your visual problems alone or combined with other health conditions prevents you from working.

user: Ok, now I'd like to know how do social security decides if an adult child is disabled and can get disability benefits?

assistant: Is the child 18 years old or older?

user: yes, of course.

assistant: Their disability is evaluated the same way we would evaluate the disability for any adult. We send the application to the Disability Determination Services in your state and they complete the disability decision for us.

user: What if the adult child is already receiving disability benefits in his own record?

assistant: He still should check if he can get benefits on his parent's record. Higher benefits might be payable and he could be entitled to receive Medicare.

user: In what is based on the benefits I get from Social Security?

assistant: the benefits are based on the Social Security credits you get from your yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits per year?