NEW ORLEANS -- Poppy seeds can indeed result in a false positive on a drug test, researchers said here.
In 2016, a worker must earn $1,260 to earn one work credit. In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you will generally need to have earned a total of 20 work credits, although there are age exceptions to this rule.
You might work all year to earn four credits, or you might earn enough for all four in a much shorter length of time. The amount of earnings it takes to earn a credit has changed since 1978. In the year 2017, you must earn $1,300 in covered earnings to get one Social Security or Medicare work credit and $5,200 to get the maximum four credits for the year. 1  Note: You do not earn credits for pension payments or for interest or dividends on savings and investments.