The Basic Requirements for Social Security

To receive Social Security benefits, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a minimum number of years — typically 10 years, or 40 work credits. You also must be at least 62 years old to claim retirement benefits, or any age if you are filing for disability or survivor benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not make exceptions to the work credit requirement, though credits earned decades ago still count.

Work credits are earned through payroll taxes, not through any other kind of work or volunteer service. Each year you work and pay into Social Security, you earn up to four credits. Once you have 40 credits, you have met the basic requirement for any type of benefit. The SSA keeps a record of your earnings history, and you can view it online through your personal my Social Security account.

Citizenship or immigration status does not automatically disqualify you. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees can receive benefits if they meet the work credit requirement. Undocumented immigrants cannot receive benefits under their own work record, though they may be able to receive benefits as a spouse or dependent of someone who does.

Key Takeaways

  • You need 40 work credits (roughly 10 years of work) to receive any Social Security benefit, whether retirement, disability, or survivor benefits.
  • Retirement benefits can start as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be smaller if you claim before your full retirement age.
  • Disability and survivor benefits have no age requirement — family members of a worker who becomes disabled or dies may receive benefits when ready.
  • The SSA verifies your work history through tax records, so you do not need to prove your credits yourself when you file.
  • Your immigration status matters only if you are not a U.S. citizen; lawful residents can receive benefits if they have the required work credits.

Retirement Benefits: Age and Earnings History

You can claim retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive each month depends on when you claim. If you claim at 62, your benefit will be roughly 30 percent lower than if you wait until your full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year. If you delay claiming until age 70, your benefit increases by about 8 percent for each year you wait past your full retirement age.

Your earnings history also affects your benefit amount. The SSA 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 average. Working additional years after age 60 can replace lower-earning years and increase your benefit.

There is no upper age limit for claiming retirement benefits. You can wait until age 75, 80, or beyond. However, the SSA does not pay benefits retroactively for more than six months, so waiting too long means you lose the months you could have claimed.

Disability Benefits: Work Credits and Medical Condition

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) requires fewer work credits than retirement benefits if you become disabled before age 31. Between ages 31 and 42, you need 20 credits earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. After age 42, you need 40 credits total, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before disability began.

Your medical condition must be severe enough to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or result in death. The SSA maintains a list of conditions that automatically meet this standard — called the Blue Book — but you can also receive benefits for conditions not on the list if you can show the condition prevents substantial work activity.

You do not have to be completely unable to work to receive SSDI. You can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) while still receiving benefits during a trial work period. After nine trial work months, your benefits continue for three more months even if you earn above the limit, giving you time to see if you can sustain employment.

Survivor Benefits: Who Can Claim on a Worker's Record

When a worker who paid into Social Security dies, their family members may receive survivor benefits if the worker had earned enough work credits. A worker needs 40 credits to leave survivor benefits to their family, though younger workers may may have access to with fewer credits.

may be able to access survivors include a spouse at any age if caring for a child under 16, a spouse age 60 or older, a divorced spouse age 60 or older (if married at least 10 years), unmarried children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school), and dependent parents age 62 or older. Each family member receives a separate benefit based on the worker's earnings record.

A family's total benefit is capped at 150 to 180 percent of what the worker would have received at full retirement age. If multiple family members claim, the SSA divides the family maximum among them, which may reduce each person's individual benefit.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): A Different Path

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a separate program from Social Security and does not require work credits. SSI is for people age 65 or older, blind, or disabled who have limited income and resources. Your countable resources must be under $2,000 (or $3,000 if you are married), and your monthly income must fall below a certain limit set by your state.

SSI is means-tested, meaning your assets and income are reviewed. Some income does not count toward the limit — for example, the first $65 of monthly earnings and half of earnings above that are excluded. Your home and one vehicle do not count as resources.

SSI benefit amounts vary by state because some states add money to the federal SSI payment. You can receive both SSI and Social Security retirement or disability benefits at the same time if your Social Security benefit is low enough.

Common Reasons You Might Not Receive Benefits

The most common reason someone does not receive benefits is insufficient work credits. If you have fewer than 40 credits and are not disabled or a family member of a deceased worker, you cannot receive retirement benefits. Immigrants who worked without a Social Security number cannot count those years toward their credits.

For disability benefits, the SSA may deny your claim if your condition does not meet their definition of disability — meaning it does not prevent substantial work activity or is not expected to last 12 months. Many people are denied on their first process; you can request reconsideration or a hearing before an administrative law judge.

If you are receiving a government pension from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes — such as some federal, state, or local government jobs — your Social Security benefit may be reduced under the Government Pension Offset or Windfall Elimination Provision. These rules explore to spouses, divorced spouses, and widow(er)s, not to workers claiming on their own record.

How to Check Your Work Record and Earnings History

The SSA maintains an official record of your earnings and work credits. You can view this record by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. The account shows your estimated retirement benefit at different claiming ages, your current work credits, and your complete earnings history.

You should review your earnings record every few years to catch errors. If the SSA has recorded lower earnings than you actually made, you can request a correction by providing tax documents or W-2 forms. Corrections must generally be requested within three years, three months, and 15 days of the year the earnings were recorded.

If you do not have internet access or prefer to speak with someone, you can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to request a paper earnings statement or to ask questions about your record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to receive Social Security benefits?

No. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and certain other immigrants can receive benefits if they have the required work credits. Undocumented immigrants cannot receive benefits on their own work record, but they may be able to receive survivor or family benefits if a family member is may be able to access.

Can I receive benefits if I worked outside the United States?

Work outside the U.S. generally does not count toward Social Security credits unless you paid U.S. Social Security taxes on those earnings. Some countries have agreements with the U.S. that allow work in that country to count; contact the SSA to learn whether your country has such an agreement.

What happens if I worked under multiple Social Security numbers?

The SSA can consolidate earnings from multiple numbers if you provide proof of your identity and explain how the numbers came to be used. Contact the SSA with your documentation to request a consolidation, which ensures all your earnings count toward your work credits.

Can I receive benefits if I am still working?

Yes, but if you claim retirement benefits before your full retirement age, your benefit will be reduced if you earn above a certain amount — $23,400 in 2024. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit. For disability benefits, you can earn up to $1,550 per month during a trial work period.

How long does it take to learn about I am approved for benefits?

For retirement benefits, the SSA typically processes your claim within two weeks if you file online or by phone. For disability benefits, the initial decision usually takes three to five months, though some cases take longer. You can check the status of your process through your my Social Security account.