Yeah, 10 years to be eligible. Five more years to qualify for those benefits. It don't have to be high wages just some wages in those years. Medicare takes two years from app, or two years you're deemed medically disabled, by their guidelines. I hear this may cut down wait time. Not sure on that though.

SS is a complicated sys, but you can get answers from any SS office.

I believe on ssdi, you can earn up to 7,000 a year, you pay taxes and ss on those wages and it would increase those monthly benefits if you were eligible but I'm wondering if it will qualify you for those quarters/years too. Worth asking the SSA about.

There's also the "Ticket to Work" program. You can work for up to 9 mine months without penalty. You still draw your monthly benefits and hold Medicare. After 9 months, your monthly benefits would discontinue, but your Medicare can stay in place for up to three years. Just another option.

Of course, you may run the gambit of being reevaluated and determined to be eligibe to work... but you come up for review anyway.

Visit any SSA office in American. Take a number and ask questions.

Just a thought...