People with disabilities can apply for various disability benefits provided by the state or federal governments. Some programs, like Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), require applicants to have a certain number of working years in their history. Even if you have never worked before, you might still be able to receive disability benefits through certain programs.
Generally, SSDI requires a history of employment before benefits are approved. However, you might be able to get SSDI benefits without any work history through a spouse or parent. Other programs, like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), allow people to apply for benefits without a work history and are based mostly on financial need. If you cannot apply for SSDI benefits and have no family members through whom you can receive SSDI benefits, an attorney can help you explore other possibilities.
For a free case evaluation, call our Arkansas disability benefits lawyers at (479) 316-0438.
Applying for Disability Benefits in Arkansas with No Work History
One of the most popular programs for people with disabilities is Social Security disability insurance (SSDI). This program is often the first option for many people because it is specifically geared toward those who need assistance due to their disabilities. Our Bella Vista disability benefits lawyers have experience with SSDI applications and can help you start your application.
Work History Requirement
One significant hurdle when applying for SSDI is work history. SSDI benefits are based on the applicant’s number of working years prior to their disability. The number of working years you must have in your history depends on your age.
Generally, people who became disabled at an older age should have more working years, and people who became disabled when they were younger need fewer.
What if You Have No Work History?
Some people have no work history for various reasons. Common reasons include being a child or having a disability that prevents you from working. People born with disabilities or who became disabled at a very young age might have no work history because they were never able to work.
In other cases, a person might have been a stay-at-home spouse and parent before becoming disabled. If you have no work history, there might still be ways to obtain SSDI benefits.
SSDI Benefits for Disabled Children in Arkansas
As mentioned, children with disabilities often need assistance but have no work history that would qualify them for SSDI benefits.
SSDI Benefits Through Parents
SSDI benefits might still be obtainable through the child’s parents. In certain circumstances, a child can receive SSDI benefits using their parent’s work history to apply. Our Arkansas disability benefits lawyers can help you and your child begin the application process.
A child may be eligible for SSDI benefits through their parents, whether they are a minor or an adult. However, there may be different rules for children who are minors than those who are adults, and you may need to meet different eligibility criteria.
Children Under 18
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), children may be eligible to receive SSDI benefits through their parents under two different circumstances.
First, the child must be unmarried and younger than 18. They may still be eligible if they are older, but they must be younger than 19 and still in high school. This form of applying for benefits is designed for children who are disabled and will likely never be able to work or will have difficulty working as they grow up.
You do not have to be born with a disability to be eligible. You may become disabled later, but you must be under 18, or under 19 and still in high school, to be eligible. Also, your parents must have sufficient work history to qualify for SSDI benefits.
Adult Children
The second scenario involves children older than 18. They may still be eligible if their disability did not begin before age 22. Essentially, an adult child may be eligible for SSDI benefits through their parents as long as their disability began before they turned 22.
This form of benefits is geared toward adults and young adults who have a disability and cannot work, but their disability began at such a young age that they were unable to earn the necessary work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits on their own.
SSDI Benefits Available to Children
A child receiving SSDI this way may collect up to 50% of their parent’s disability benefit amount. The total potential benefit amount varies based on the parent’s income and years of work.
Not only that, but the value of benefits you receive might also be affected by how many people in your family are receiving benefits. For example, if your child and spouse both receive benefits through your SSDI, the total amount payable may be greater.
Adults with No Work History Applying for Disability Benefits in Arkansas
Many adults do not have work histories when they become disabled. For example, some stay-at-home parents have never worked because their spouse was the primary breadwinner while they cared for the home. If such a person becomes disabled, our Bentonville disability benefits attorneys can help them receive SSDI benefits through their spouse.
SSDI Benefits Through a Spouse
Much like when children apply for disability benefits through their parents, there are two general scenarios in which an adult may be eligible through their spouse. You must either be of a certain age to claim SSDI benefits using your spouse’s work history, or you must be caring for a disabled child.
You do not have to have a work history of your own to be eligible for SDDI benefits this way. However, your spouse must have a sufficient work history. If your spouse also lacks a history of working, your attorney can advise you of other options for benefits.
Age Limits
First, you can apply for SSDI benefits through your spouse if you are at least 62 years old. This is common in cases where a disabled spouse spent most of their adult life as a stay-at-home parent but has become disabled as they age.
Again, to claim SSDI benefits this way, your spouse must have a sufficient work history. If they do not, or you are not yet 62 years old, ask your lawyer about other possible ways to receive benefits.
Spouse Caring for a Child with a Disability
Second, you can apply through your spouse regardless of age if you care for a disabled child or a child younger than 16. If one spouse has enough work credits, the other may be eligible for SSDI benefits.
This method of receiving SSDI benefits is geared towards parents who cannot work because caring for a child with a disability is a full-time job. This can pose a serious problem for families who need two incomes to survive, but only one parent can work because the other cares for a child with a disability.
The benefits you can receive are similar to the limits for children. A person can collect up to 50% of their spouse’s total benefits, and the total amount possible varies based on work history and income.
What to Do If You Have Never Worked and Cannot Get SSDI in Arkansas
Suppose you have no work history, no parents, and no spouse through whom you can obtain SSDI benefits. In that case, our Farmington disability benefits attorneys can help you begin exploring other options for assistance
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
One possibility is SSI, which is not based on work history but is instead based primarily on financial need.
The SSI program is a federal program that provides benefits to seniors who are at least 65 years old or younger people who cannot work because of disabilities but have no other financial resources. You do not have to have a certain work history or have paid into FICA to be eligible for SSDI.
Disabilities Arising from Accidents
You might have other options depending on how your disability began. For example, if you became disabled after being injured through someone else’s negligence, we might be able to help you file a personal injury lawsuit. In such a lawsuit, you can claim damages for things like medical bills and any future expenses you encounter because of your disability. We might not even have to have a full trial, and many defendants would rather offer a generous settlement than have a full trial.
Insurance Claims
It is also possible that your damages related to a personal injury are covered by insurance. If you do not have insurance to cover these damages, the person or entity responsible for the accident might, and we should investigate whether you can file a claim.
Your legal options depend largely on your unique circumstances. If you are unsure whether you qualify for SSDI benefits, you should speak to an attorney immediately about other assistance programs or legal options.
Can You Get SSDI if You’ve Never Worked Full-Time?
The major requirements for SSDI benefits are that you must have a disability that prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity, and you must have a sufficient history of working and work credits. Working full-time can help you fulfill these requirements, but it is not always necessary.
FICA Taxes
You may have a history of working full-time, part-time, or a mixture of both to qualify for SSDI benefits. The important thing is that you have paid FICA taxes through working whatever jobs you might have had. This means a person may be eligible for SSDI benefits even if they have only ever held part-time positions.
Work Credits
You must have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI. For many, this means having at least 40 work credits with at least 20 being earned in the last 10 years. You may earn these work credits through full-time or part-time work.
While full-time work may help someone earn these credits a bit quicker, it is still possible to earn sufficient work credits by working only part-time. In 2026, you may earn one credit for every $1,890 in earnings and up to 4 credits per year.
What if I Do Not Have Enough Work Credits?
If you do not have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits because you have only ever worked part-time, talk to your lawyer about your situation. Calculating your credits might not be so simple, especially if you have a complex work history. Your attorney might find that you have more than enough work credits after examining your work history and crunching the numbers.
If you still do not have enough work credits, your lawyer should help you explore other options for different benefits.
FAQs About Disability Benefits for People Who Have Not Worked in Arkansas
Can I Claim SSDI Benefits Without a History of Working?
Possibly. People without a history may still be eligible for SSDI benefits if they have parents or a spouse who does have a sufficient work history. Children may claim benefits using their parents’ work history, and a person may similarly apply for benefits using a spouse’s work history.
Am I Eligible for SSDI Benefits in Arkansas if I Only Ever Worked Part-Time?
Yes. You do not have to have held a full-time job to be eligible for SSDI benefits. Many people are able to meet the eligibility criteria even if they have only ever worked a part-time job. The important thing is that you have enough work credits and a qualifying disability.
What Should I Do if I Do Not Have Parents or a Spouse Who Can Help Me Claim SSDI Benefits?
If you do not have the necessary work credits or work history to qualify for SSDI benefits, and you do not have parents or a spouse whose work history you can use, your lawyer should help you explore other legal options. There might be other benefits programs, like SSI, or you might sue for damages if your disability arose from an accident.
How Do I Prove My Work History When Claiming SSDI Benefits?
To prove that you have sufficient work history and enough work credits, you must complete a Work History Report Form (Form SSA-3369). Your attorney can help you fill out these forms so that all the information is complete and accurate.
What Are Alternative Options to SSDI Benefits?
Some alternatives to SSDI benefits include SSI benefits, which are based on need rather than work history. You might instead be able to file a personal injury lawsuit if your disability arose from an accident for which someone else is responsible. Still, other programs or legal options may exist, and your lawyer should be able to help you.
Contact Our Arkansas Disability Benefits Lawyers for Help
Even people with disabilities with no work history can apply for SSDI benefits through family members. If you have no family members to help you, our Rogers disability benefits lawyers can help you determine your options. Call us at (479) 316-0438 for a free case review.