What immigrants need to know about Social Security
Whether an immigrant can receive Social Security depends on work history in the United States and current immigration status. Most immigrants who have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) can receive retirement benefits at the same age as U.S. citizens. Some non-citizens who are not yet permanent residents may also receive benefits, but the rules vary by visa type and country of origin.
The key factor is not citizenship — it is whether you have earned enough work credits through paying Social Security taxes. An immigrant who became a U.S. citizen after working here for 15 years, for example, has the same claim to benefits as someone born here. An undocumented worker who paid taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) cannot receive Social Security benefits, even if they paid into the system.
Key Takeaways
- You need 40 work credits (roughly 10 years of work) to receive Social Security retirement benefits, regardless of immigration status at the time you earned them.
- Permanent residents (green card holders) can receive benefits if they meet the work requirement, even if they are not yet citizens.
- Some temporary visa holders — including H-1B, L-1, and certain other work visas — can receive benefits if they have earned enough credits and meet other requirements.
- Undocumented immigrants who paid taxes with an ITIN cannot receive Social Security benefits, though their taxes still fund the system.
- You can check your work record and estimated benefits by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov.
Who can receive benefits based on immigration status
U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) who have worked and paid Social Security taxes can receive retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Permanent residents do not need to be citizens to draw benefits — only to have earned the required 40 work credits.
Temporary visa holders in certain categories can also receive benefits if they have earned enough credits. This includes people on H-1B visas (specialty occupations), L-1 visas (intracompany transfers), E-2 visas (treaty investors), and several other work-based visa types. The visa itself does not determine may be able to access — the work credits do. However, some visa holders may face restrictions on when they can claim benefits, particularly if they must leave the country.
Refugees and asylees who have been granted status can receive benefits the same way as permanent residents. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients can work and pay Social Security taxes, but they cannot receive benefits based on their own work record because they do not have lawful permanent resident status.
How work credits are earned and what they mean
You earn one Social Security work credit for each quarter (three-month period) in which you earn at least a certain amount of money — in 2024, that amount is $1,705 per quarter. You can earn a maximum of four credits per year. To receive retirement benefits, you need 40 credits total, which typically means working for about 10 years.
The work credits stay on your record even if you leave the United States, change jobs, or have periods without work. They do not expire. If you worked in the U.S. for five years and then left, those five years of credits remain yours. If you return and work another five years, you will have the 10 years needed for retirement benefits.
Social Security keeps track of your work record under your Social Security number. If you worked using an ITIN instead of a Social Security number, those earnings do not create work credits and cannot be counted toward benefits, even if you later obtain a Social Security number or become a permanent resident.
explore for benefits as an immigrant
To explore for retirement benefits, you can visit your local Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213, or explore online at ssa.gov. You will need to provide proof of age, proof of citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, and your work history. Bring your green card, passport, or other immigration documents.
Social Security will review your work record to confirm you have earned 40 credits. If you worked under a different name (for example, before marriage), bring documentation of the name change so Social Security can match your records correctly. If you worked in multiple countries, you may be able to combine work credits from certain countries under totalization agreements, though this is complex and worth discussing with Social Security directly.
The process process takes the same amount of time for immigrants as for citizens — typically a few weeks to a few months. You can check the status of your process by logging into your my Social Security account or calling the number above.
What happens if you are not yet a permanent resident
If you are on a temporary visa and have earned work credits, you may still receive benefits once you meet the age requirement, even if you are no longer in the United States. However, some visa holders face practical complications: if you must leave the country before reaching retirement age, you cannot claim benefits until you return or reach the required age.
Some countries have restrictions on sending Social Security payments to residents there. If you move to a country where the U.S. does not send Social Security checks, you may need to return to the U.S. periodically to receive benefits, or you may need to make other arrangements. Social Security can tell you whether your country of residence will allow benefit payments.
If your visa status changes or you are concerned about how immigration status might affect your benefits, contact Social Security before you leave the country. They can explain your options and help you understand what will happen to your benefits if you move abroad.
Undocumented workers and Social Security taxes
Undocumented immigrants who work in the United States and have taxes withheld from their paychecks contribute to Social Security. If they used an ITIN to file taxes, those contributions go into the Social Security trust fund but do not create work credits for them. They cannot later claim benefits based on that work, even if they become permanent residents or citizens.
If an undocumented worker used a false or borrowed Social Security number, the situation is more complicated. Social Security may flag the account, and the worker could face legal consequences. Using an ITIN to work and pay taxes is the legal way for undocumented immigrants to file taxes without a Social Security number.
Checking your work record and estimated benefits
You can create a free my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view your work record and see an estimate of your future benefits. This account shows all the quarters you have earned credits for and the amount of wages reported to Social Security each year. If you see errors — for example, a year of work that is missing — you can contact Social Security to correct it.
If you do not have online access or prefer to speak with someone, you can visit a Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. Bring your Social Security number, proof of age, and any documents showing work you did that might not be on your record. Social Security staff can help you understand your record and answer questions about your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive Social Security if I am a permanent resident but not yet a citizen?
Yes. Permanent residents can receive all types of Social Security benefits — retirement, disability, and survivor benefits — if they have earned 40 work credits. Citizenship is not required, only lawful permanent resident status and the required work history.
What if I worked in another country before coming to the United States?
Work you did outside the U.S. does not count toward Social Security benefits unless the U.S. has a totalization agreement with that country. The U.S. has these agreements with about 30 countries. If you worked in one of those countries, Social Security may be able to combine your credits from both countries to help you reach the 40-credit requirement. Contact Social Security to learn about your country is covered.
If I leave the United States, can I still receive my Social Security benefits?
In most cases, yes — you can receive benefits while living abroad. However, some countries have restrictions, and Social Security may need to verify your identity periodically. Before you move, contact Social Security to confirm that benefits can be sent to your new country and to understand any requirements for staying on the rolls.
What if my name or Social Security number changed after I worked?
Contact Social Security with documentation of the change — such as a marriage certificate or court order — so they can match your old work record to your current name and number. Bring the documents to a Social Security office or mail them with a completed form. This is important because earnings under your old name or number will not count toward benefits unless the records are linked.
Can I get back pay for benefits I should have received earlier?
Social Security can pay back benefits for up to six months before the month you explore. If you delayed explore for benefits you were may have access to to, you may be able to receive some back pay, but not for the full period you waited. Speak with Social Security about your specific situation to learn what back pay you may be owed.