What Social Security Credits Are
Social Security credits are the units the Social Security Administration uses to measure whether you have worked enough to receive benefits. You earn credits by paying Social Security taxes on your wages or self-employment income. In 2024, you earn one credit for every $1,730 of income you make, up to a maximum of four credits per year. The dollar amount that triggers a credit changes each year, so the threshold will be different in 2025.
You do not need to earn credits all at once or in consecutive years. Credits accumulate over your lifetime, and you keep them even if you change jobs, move states, or take time away from work. The Social Security Administration tracks your credits automatically through your Social Security number.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one Social Security credit for roughly $1,730 of wages or self-employment income in 2024, with a maximum of four credits per year.
- Most people need 40 credits total to receive retirement benefits, which typically takes about 10 years of work.
- Disability and survivor benefits require fewer credits and depend partly on your age when you become disabled or die.
- You can check your exact credit count and earnings history on your Social Security account at ssa.gov or by requesting a statement by mail.
- Credits only count if you pay Social Security taxes; volunteer work, caregiving, and unpaid family work do not earn credits.
How Many Credits You Need for Different Benefits
The number of credits required depends on which benefit you are seeking. For retirement benefits, you need 40 credits total. Since you can earn up to four credits per year, this typically means about 10 years of work. You can start receiving retirement benefits as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be smaller than if you wait until your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year).
For disability benefits, the requirement is lower and depends on your age. If you become disabled before age 24, you may need as few as 6 credits earned in the three years before you became disabled. If you are between 24 and 31, you generally need credits for half the time between age 21 and when you became disabled. At 31 and older, you typically need 20 credits earned in the 10 years before you became disabled, though the exact number varies.
Survivor benefits for your family members also depend on your age and work history at the time of your death. Your spouse and children may receive benefits based on your credits even if you have not yet reached retirement age. A young worker with just 6 credits can provide survivor protection for their family.
How to Check Your Social Security Credits
The fastest way to see your credits is to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you log in, you can view your earnings record and the number of credits you have earned each year. This account also shows your estimated retirement benefit amount based on your current work history.
If you do not want to create an online account, you can request a printed statement by mail. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask for a "Social Security Statement," or visit your local Social Security office in person. The printed statement takes about two weeks to arrive and shows the same information as the online account.
Check your record every few years to make sure your earnings are recorded correctly. If you spot an error — such as wages that were not credited to your account — contact Social Security right away. You have a limited time to correct mistakes, so do not wait.
Work That Counts Toward Credits
Only work where you pay Social Security taxes counts toward credits. This includes W-2 wages from an employer and net income from self-employment. If you are self-employed, you pay both the employee and employer portion of Social Security tax (called self-employment tax), which still earns you credits the same way.
Work that does not earn credits includes volunteer work, unpaid family caregiving, raising children, and work done without a Social Security number. Government employees hired before 1984 may have different rules depending on their pension system. Railroad workers have their own credit system through the Railroad Retirement Board.
If you worked in another country, those earnings may count toward Social Security credits under a totalization agreement between the United States and that country. The Social Security Administration has agreements with dozens of nations. Contact Social Security to ask whether your foreign work history can be credited.
Credits and Your Benefit Amount
Having enough credits makes you may be able to access for benefits, but your monthly payment amount depends on how much you earned during your working years, not just the number of credits. Social Security calculates your benefit based on your 35 highest-earning years. If you worked fewer than 35 years, zeros are counted for the missing years, which lowers your benefit.
This is why working longer can increase your benefit in two ways: you earn more credits (which may move you from ineligible to may be able to access), and you replace lower-earning years or zeros with higher-earning years. If you continue working past age 62, your benefit calculation may improve even if you already have 40 credits.
Delaying benefits past your full retirement age also increases your monthly payment. For every year you wait between your full retirement age and age 70, your benefit grows by about 8 percent per year. This delayed retirement credit is separate from your credit count but is another reason to understand your work history.
What Happens if You Do Not Have Enough Credits
If you reach retirement age without 40 credits, you cannot receive Social Security retirement benefits on your own record. However, you may still be able to receive benefits as a spouse or surviving family member if your spouse or ex-spouse has enough credits. Spousal benefits are typically 32 to 50 percent of the higher earner's benefit amount, depending on your age and family situation.
If you are still working and do not yet have enough credits, keep working. You can earn up to four credits per year, so reaching 40 credits is possible even if you start late. Some people work part-time in their 60s specifically to build up their credit count before claiming benefits.
If you became disabled before earning 40 credits, you may still may have access to for disability benefits under the younger-worker rules described earlier. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn credits from work I did before I had a Social Security number?
No. You must have a Social Security number at the time you work for earnings to be credited to your account. If you worked without a number and later obtained one, those past earnings cannot be added retroactively. Going forward, all work under your number will be credited normally.
Do credits expire or disappear if I do not work for a few years?
No. Credits never expire. If you earned 30 credits by age 35 and then stopped working, those 30 credits remain on your record forever. You can return to work later and add more credits without losing the ones you already earned.
What if my earnings record shows the wrong amount of income for a year?
Contact Social Security as soon as you notice the error. You will need to provide proof of your actual earnings, such as old tax returns or W-2 forms. Social Security can correct errors, but there are time limits, so report mistakes promptly.
If I worked in multiple states, do I have separate credit accounts?
No. All your work is tracked under one Social Security number, regardless of how many states you worked in. Your credits combine automatically into a single lifetime record.
Do I need to do anything to "set up" my credits once I have 40?
No. Your credits are automatically tracked and counted. When you are ready to receive benefits, you contact Social Security to start your claim. You do not need to take any action to keep your credits active.