You earn Social Security credits by working and paying payroll taxes
A Social Security credit is a record of work and tax payment that counts toward your future benefits. You earn credits while you work — they are not something you request or explore for. The Social Security Administration tracks them automatically based on your W-2 wages or self-employment income.
In 2024, you earn one credit for every $1,730 of wages or self-employment income you make. Once you have earned $6,920 in a year, you have earned the maximum of four credits for that year, even if you earn more. The dollar amount that triggers each credit changes slightly each year, but the four-credit-per-year cap stays the same.
You need 40 credits total to become may be able to access for retirement benefits at any age. Most people reach 40 credits after about 10 years of full-time work. You also need a certain number of credits to receive disability or survivor benefits, though the requirement is lower and depends on your age when you become disabled or when you die.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one credit for roughly every $1,730 you earn in wages or self-employment income, with a maximum of four credits per year.
- The dollar amount needed per credit increases slightly each year, so check the current year's figure on ssa.gov if you are self-employed.
- You need 40 credits to become may be able to access for retirement benefits, which typically takes about 10 years of steady work.
- Credits do not expire — work you did 20 years ago still counts toward your 40-credit total.
- You can view your exact credit count and earnings history on your Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
How credits are counted each year
Credits are tied to calendar years, not to when you receive a paycheck. If you earn $1,730 in January, you have one credit for that year. If you earn another $1,730 in June, you have two credits for that year. The Social Security Administration counts your total earnings for the entire year and divides by the annual credit amount to determine how many credits you earned.
You cannot earn more than four credits in a single year, no matter how much you earn. Someone who makes $100,000 in a year still earns only four credits, the same as someone who makes $6,920. This is why the credit system rewards steady work over time rather than high income in a single year.
If you are self-employed, you report your net self-employment income on your tax return, and Social Security uses that figure to calculate your credits. You must pay self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare tax on your net earnings) to earn credits. If you have a loss in a self-employment year, you earn no credits for that year, even if you had income in other years.
Credits do not expire or disappear
Once you earn a credit, it stays on your record permanently. You do not have to work every year to keep your credits. If you worked for five years, earned 20 credits, then took ten years off to raise children or care for a family member, those 20 credits remain yours. When you return to work, new credits add to the old ones.
This matters for people who have gaps in their work history. A parent who left the workforce for several years, a person who was unemployed for a stretch, or someone who changed careers later in life can still reach 40 credits as long as they work long enough in total. The credits do not need to be consecutive.
Checking your Social Security credit record
You can see exactly how many credits you have earned and review your earnings history by creating an account at ssa.gov/myaccount. The account shows your credits year by year and flags any years where your earnings may not have been recorded correctly. You can print or read your statement for your records.
If you do not have an online account, you can request a paper statement by visiting your local Social Security office or calling 1-800-772-1213. The statement arrives by mail in about two weeks. Checking your record every few years is a good idea, especially if you are self-employed or have worked for multiple employers, because errors can happen and are easier to fix while you are still working.
If you spot an error — such as earnings that are missing or attributed to the wrong year — contact Social Security as soon as you notice it. You will need your tax return or W-2 from that year as proof. Social Security can correct the record, but the sooner you report it, the easier the fix.
How many credits you need for different benefits
Retirement benefits require 40 credits, which is the standard threshold. However, you do not need all 40 credits to be recent. Credits earned decades ago count just as much as credits earned last year.
Disability benefits have a lower credit requirement that depends on your age when you become disabled. If you are under 24, you may need only six credits earned in the three years before you became disabled. If you are 24 to 31, you typically need credits for half the years between age 21 and the year you became disabled. At 31 and older, you generally need 20 credits, with at least five earned in the ten years before disability. The exact requirement varies, so check with Social Security if you are explore for disability.
Survivor benefits — paid to your family if you die — also have a credit requirement based on your age at death. A worker who dies at 28 needs fewer credits than one who dies at 50. Spouses and children of a worker who has earned credits may receive benefits even if the worker has not yet reached retirement age.
Self-employment and credit earning
If you are self-employed, you earn credits the same way as W-2 employees, but you report your income on Schedule C of your tax return. Your net self-employment income (after business expenses) is what counts toward credits. You must also pay self-employment tax, which covers both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare tax.
Many self-employed people do not realize they need to file a tax return to earn credits, even in years when they owe no income tax. If your net self-employment income is $400 or more, you should file a return to report it and earn credits. Years with no income or a loss do not generate credits.
If you have both W-2 income and self-employment income in the same year, Social Security adds them together to calculate your credits. You could earn four credits from a combination of both types of income in a single year.
What happens if you do not have 40 credits
If you reach retirement age without 40 credits, you cannot receive retirement benefits based on your own work record. However, you may be able to receive benefits as a spouse or ex-spouse of someone who has 40 credits, or as a dependent of a retired or disabled worker. The rules for these benefits are different and depend on your age and family relationship.
If you are still working, you can continue earning credits. Some people work a few extra years specifically to reach the 40-credit threshold. Each additional year of work adds up to four more credits and also increases your benefit amount, because Social Security calculates benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn credits by doing volunteer work or unpaid caregiving?
No. Credits are earned only through paid work where you or your employer pay Social Security tax. Volunteer work, caring for family members, or other unpaid activities do not generate credits, even if they are valuable and important work.
What if I worked in another country before moving to the United States?
Work you did in another country generally does not count toward Social Security credits. However, the United States has agreements with some countries that allow work in those countries to count. Contact Social Security to ask whether your country of prior work has an agreement with the United States.
Do credits count toward Medicare may be able to access?
Yes. You need 40 credits to become may be able to access for Medicare at age 65, the same as for retirement benefits. If you have 40 credits, you can enroll in Medicare even if you choose not to claim retirement benefits yet.
Can my spouse earn credits on my work record?
No. Credits are individual — only the person who earned the income gets credits on their record. Your spouse builds their own credits through their own work. However, a spouse who did not work or worked less can receive a benefit based on your record once you claim retirement or disability benefits.
What if I worked under different names or Social Security numbers?
Contact Social Security to report the name or number change. Bring documents that show the change, such as a marriage certificate or court order. Social Security can consolidate your earnings records so all your work counts toward your 40 credits.