The Basic Rule: Work History and Age Matter Most

You can receive Social Security if you have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of years, and you meet one of these conditions: you are at least 62 years old, you have a disability, or you are a family member of someone who receives or received Social Security. The exact requirements depend on which type of benefit you are looking at and your age.

Social Security is not a single program — it is three separate benefit streams. Retirement benefits go to workers who have reached a certain age. Disability benefits go to workers under full retirement age who cannot work because of a medical condition. Survivor benefits go to family members of a worker who has died. Each has its own rules about who qualifies.

Key Takeaways

  • You need 40 work credits (roughly 10 years of work) to receive any Social Security benefit, though some family members can receive benefits on your record with fewer credits.
  • Retirement benefits can start as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be smaller than if you wait until your full retirement age (66 to 67 for most people born after 1954).
  • Disability benefits are available to workers of any age who have a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months and cannot work, if they have enough work credits.
  • Spouses, ex-spouses, children, and parents of a worker may receive benefits on that worker's record even if they never worked.
  • You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to receive Social Security, but you must have a valid Social Security number and meet all other requirements.

Work Credits: The Foundation of Your Claim

Social Security measures your work history in credits, not years. You earn one credit for every $1,730 of wages you earn in a year (this dollar amount changes each year). You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, which means you need roughly 10 years of work to earn 40 credits.

The 40-credit requirement applies to retirement and disability benefits. If you die before reaching 40 credits, your family may still receive survivor benefits — they need only 20 to 30 credits depending on your age at death. If you stopped working before earning 40 credits, you cannot receive retirement or disability benefits, but your family may still may have access to for survivor benefits.

Work credits stay on your record forever. If you worked for 15 years, left the workforce, and returned 20 years later, those early credits still count. Social Security does not require you to have worked recently — only that you have enough total credits.

Retirement Benefits: Age and Payment Amount

You can start receiving retirement benefits as early as age 62 if you have 40 work credits. However, your monthly payment depends on when you start. If you start at 62, your payment will be roughly 30 percent smaller than if you wait until your full retirement age. Your full retirement age is 66 or 67 depending on your birth year.

If you wait until age 70 to start benefits, your payment increases by about 8 percent for each year you delay past your full retirement age. This means a person born in 1960 who waits until 70 receives roughly 24 percent more per month than someone born the same year who starts at their full retirement age of 67.

Your payment amount is based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If you worked fewer than 35 years, Social Security counts the missing years as zero, which lowers your benefit. If you worked more than 35 years, Social Security drops your lowest-earning years from the calculation.

Disability Benefits: Medical Condition and Work Credits

You can receive disability benefits at any age if you have a medical condition that prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. You must also have enough work credits — the number depends on your age, but generally ranges from 20 to 40 credits.

Social Security's definition of disability is strict. You must have a condition that keeps you from doing any substantial work, not just your current job. The condition must be documented by medical evidence — your own statement that you cannot work is not enough. Social Security will review your medical records, may request additional testing, and may ask you to see a doctor of their choosing.

The process typically takes three to five months. If Social Security denies your claim, you can request reconsideration, then appeal to an administrative law judge. Many people are denied on the first process and approved on appeal.

Family Members Who Can Receive Benefits on Your Record

If you receive retirement or disability benefits, your family members may receive benefits based on your work record even if they have never worked. This includes your spouse (at any age if caring for your child under 16, or at 62 or older), your ex-spouse (if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you are both at least 62), your unmarried children under 19 (or up to 23 if in high school full-time), and your parents if you support them and they are at least 62.

Each family member receives their own benefit based on a percentage of your benefit amount. The total paid to your family cannot exceed 150 to 180 percent of your benefit, so if many family members are receiving benefits, each person's share may be reduced.

If you die, your family members may receive survivor benefits. Your spouse, ex-spouse, children, and parents may all may have access to, with different age and circumstance requirements for each group.

Citizenship and Immigration Status

You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to receive Social Security benefits. You must have a valid Social Security number and meet all other requirements for the benefit type you are seeking. If you are not a citizen, you must have a work visa or other authorization that allowed you to work legally and pay Social Security taxes.

If you are a non-citizen and leave the United States, your benefits may be affected depending on which country you move to. Some countries have agreements with the United States that allow benefits to continue; others do not. You should contact Social Security before moving abroad to understand how it will affect your benefits.

Special Situations: Government Work and Pensions

If you worked for a federal, state, or local government and did not pay Social Security taxes on that work, a rule called the Government Pension Offset may reduce your spouse or survivor benefits. If you receive a government pension and also may have access to for benefits as a spouse or survivor, your spouse or survivor benefit may be reduced by two-thirds of your government pension amount.

Similarly, if you receive a government pension and also may have access to for your own Social Security retirement benefit, the Windfall Elimination Provision may reduce your retirement benefit. This rule applies only to people who worked in government jobs where they did not pay Social Security taxes.

These rules are complex and vary by situation. If you worked for a government employer, contact Social Security directly to understand how these rules may affect your benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive Social Security if I never worked?

No, you cannot receive retirement or disability benefits without work credits. However, if you are the spouse, ex-spouse, child, or parent of someone who receives or received Social Security, you may receive family benefits based on their work record.

What if I worked in another country?

Work you did in another country generally does not count toward Social Security unless that country has a totalization agreement with the United States. The U.S. has these agreements with about 30 countries. If you worked in multiple countries, Social Security can combine your work credits from both countries to help you reach the 40-credit requirement.

Can I receive benefits if I am still working?

Yes, but if you are under your full retirement age and earn more than a certain amount per year, Social Security will reduce your benefits. In 2024, if you earn more than $23,400 per year, your benefit is reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn.

How do I know if I have enough work credits?

You can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view your earnings record and see how many credits you have earned. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office to request a statement of your earnings and credits.

What if I was married more than once?

You can receive benefits based on the work record of any ex-spouse whose marriage to you lasted at least 10 years, as long as you are at least 62 and not currently married. You do not need permission from your ex-spouse, and receiving benefits on their record does not reduce their benefits or their current spouse's benefits.