My mother has been told by many physicians that she qualifies for disability, but she also heard you need a certain amount of tax credits to be able to obtain disability. She states that she does not have enough. Is it possible that you need tax credits to qualify - and how ?
Thank you!
"Tax credit" is the wrong term. To collect social security disability, you must have a certain number of "work credits", not tax credits. You receive 0-4 credits each year that you work, depending on how much you earn.

"Each year the amount of earnings needed for credits goes up slightly as average earnings levels increase. The credits you earn remain on your Social Security record even if you change jobs or have no earnings for a while".

"In 2009, you receive one credit for each $1,090 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year." In earlier years, less earnings were needed.

"The number of work credits needed 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.

"The rules are as follows:

"Before age 24–You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts.

"Age 24 to 31–You may qualify if you have credit for working half the time between age 21 and the time you become disabled. For example, if you become disabled at age 27, you would need credit for 3 years of work (12 credits) out of the past 6 years (between ages 21 and 27).

"Age 31 or older–In general, you need to have the number of work credits shown in the chart below. Unless you are blind, you must have earned at least 20 of the credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.

"Age is in left column. Number of credits is in right column.
31 through 42 20
44 22
46 24
48 26
50 28
52 30
54 32
56 34
58 36
60 38
62 or older 40"
For social security disability, YES.
SS Disability is an insurance program requiring contributions to qualify for benefits.
For SSI, which is disability welfare program for those who have not earned enough credits, NO.
SSI is administered by SS, but is not part of SS, but is welfare, and pays less than SS Disability.
there are no tax credits for disability
there is one for retirement income
apparently your mother does not have enough credits with her earnings life to qualify for Social security disability
she probably needs to investigate SSI.