What is a primary eligibility requirement for Social Security disability income benefits?

To qualify for Social Security disability income benefits, an individual must have fully insured status. This means they need to have accumulated a sufficient number of work credits, which are earned through paying Social Security taxes on their earnings over a certain period. The fully insured status is essential because it indicates that the individual has contributed to the Social Security system long enough to be eligible for benefits.

Achieving fully insured status involves having at least 40 work credits, with at least 20 of those earned in the last 10 years before the onset of disability. This requirement ensures that only those who have demonstrated substantial work history and contributed to the Social Security fund are eligible to receive benefits, reflecting the insurance nature of Social Security.

Other choices do not meet the primary requirement for eligibility. Partially insured status does not provide the same level of benefits and could disqualify individuals. The status of being recently unemployed is not a eligibility requirement; it does not inherently relate to a person’s ability to claim disability. Finally, the statement about having no prior medical conditions is misleading, as having a prior medical condition does not disqualify someone, provided that they meet the other criteria and their condition is severe enough to warrant disability benefits.