Hi Andrea,   I am not 100% sure on that. I do know that benefits are based on money paid into the system over the course of your career. In my case I had to take it at age 44, which gave me over 25 years of work and paying into the system. According to the SSDI website "Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes." I would click on the link I added above and search the site. Lots of good info on there that can steer you in the right direction! Good luck!    Brad