Life Insurance✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 2/5
A 22-year-old worker becomes disabled and applies for Social Security disability benefits. To be considered currently insured for disability purposes, the worker generally must have earned:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
A worker under age 24 is currently insured for disability purposes by earning 6 credits in the 3-year period ending with the onset of disability. The 'currently insured' test measures recent work, whereas the fully insured test generally requires 40 credits. For young workers, the recent-work requirement is reduced because they have not had time to accumulate 40 credits.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) 40 credits is the fully insured standard for retirement and full disability benefits, not the reduced young-worker test.
- C) 20 credits is not a statutory insured-status threshold for a worker under 24.
- D) 12 credits in 5 years does not match the 6-credits-in-3-years standard for workers under 24.
Memory hook
Young and disabled? 6 credits in the last 3 years is the ticket. The fully insured badge is 40, but youth gets a discount.