You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes to receive benefits

Social Security is not a program you can join. Instead, you earn the right to receive it by working and having taxes withheld from your paychecks. The Social Security Administration (SSA) tracks how long you worked and how much you paid in taxes through a system called credits. You need a certain number of credits to receive any benefit at all, and the amount you receive depends on how much you earned over your lifetime.

The basic rule is straightforward: if you never worked or worked only briefly without paying Social Security taxes, you cannot receive Social Security benefits based on your own work record. However, you may be able to receive benefits based on someone else's work record — as a spouse, ex-spouse, child, or survivor — even if you never worked yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn Social Security credits by working and paying taxes; you need 40 credits (roughly 10 years of work) to receive retirement benefits at any age.
  • The age at which you can start receiving benefits ranges from 62 to 70, and the amount you receive increases the longer you wait.
  • You can receive benefits based on your own work record or, in some cases, based on a spouse's, ex-spouse's, or parent's work record.
  • The SSA maintains a record of your earnings and credits; you can view this record online or request it by mail to verify it is correct.
  • You do not need to be retired to receive Social Security, but if you work and claim benefits before your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced.

How Social Security credits work and why you need 40 of them

A Social Security credit is a unit of work history. You earn one credit for every $1,730 of wages you earn in a year (this amount changes annually). You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, regardless of how much you earn. This means you need at least 10 years of work to accumulate 40 credits, though the work does not have to be consecutive.

To receive retirement benefits, you must have 40 credits. To receive survivor benefits (paid to your family if you die), you need fewer credits — as few as six if you die young, though the exact number depends on your age at death. To receive disability benefits, you also need fewer than 40 credits, and the requirement depends on your age when you become disabled.

The SSA keeps a record of your credits under your Social Security number. You can view your earnings record and credits online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, or you can request a paper copy by filling out Form SSA-7050 and mailing it to your local SSA office. Checking your record is important because errors can reduce the benefits you receive.

The ages at which you can start receiving benefits

You can claim Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive will be permanently reduced — typically by 30 percent or more, depending on your birth year. This reduction is called an early filing reduction. The longer you wait to claim, the larger your monthly benefit becomes.

Your full retirement age — the age at which you receive your full benefit amount with no reduction — depends on the year you were born. For people born in 1943 or later, full retirement age ranges from 66 to 67. If you wait until age 70 to claim, your benefit increases by about 8 percent for each year you delay past your full retirement age, up to age 70.

You do not have to be retired to claim benefits. You can still work and receive Social Security at the same time. However, if you claim before your full retirement age and earn more than a certain amount (the limit changes yearly), the SSA will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn without affecting your benefits.

Receiving benefits based on someone else's work record

Even if you have not worked long enough to earn 40 credits, you may receive benefits based on a family member's work record. A spouse can receive up to 50 percent of the worker's full retirement age benefit amount. An ex-spouse can receive the same amount if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62 years old, and you have been divorced for at least two years (or your ex-spouse is already receiving benefits). You do not need your ex-spouse's permission.

Children of a worker who is retired, disabled, or deceased can receive benefits until age 19 (or age 19 if still in high school, or indefinitely if disabled before age 22). A parent of a worker who is retired, disabled, or deceased can receive benefits if the worker was providing at least half of the parent's support at the time the worker became disabled or retired.

If you receive benefits based on someone else's record, your benefit does not reduce the amount the primary worker or other family members receive. The SSA calculates a family maximum — the total amount all family members can receive based on one worker's record — but this is separate from what the worker receives.

What the SSA will ask you to prove

When you claim Social Security, the SSA will ask for documents that verify your identity, age, and citizenship or legal residency. Bring an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license or passport), and proof of citizenship or legal residency (such as a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or permanent resident card). If you are claiming based on a family member's record, you will also need to prove your relationship — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or birth certificate, depending on your claim type.

The SSA will verify your work history using the records it already has. You do not need to bring pay stubs or tax returns unless there is a discrepancy in your earnings record. If you are claiming disability benefits, the SSA will also ask for medical records and may send you to a doctor for an examination.

You can start the process online through your my Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local SSA office. The SSA does not charge a fee to claim benefits.

How your benefit amount is calculated

Your monthly benefit is based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which the SSA calculates using your 35 highest-earning years. The SSA adjusts your historical earnings for inflation, adds them up, and applies a formula that replaces a higher percentage of lower earnings than higher earnings. This is why someone who earned $30,000 per year receives a larger percentage of their earnings as a benefit than someone who earned $150,000 per year.

If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings, the SSA counts the missing years as zero, which lowers your average and reduces your benefit. If you worked more than 35 years, the SSA drops your lowest-earning years and uses only the 35 highest.

Your benefit is adjusted each year for inflation through a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index and is announced each October for benefits that begin the following January. In years when inflation is low or negative, the COLA may be zero or very small.

How to check your work record and correct errors

The SSA maintains a record of your earnings and credits under your Social Security number. You can view this record online by creating or logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. The account shows your estimated retirement benefit at different ages, your earnings history, and the number of credits you have earned.

If you find an error in your earnings record — such as wages that were not credited to your account or wages credited to the wrong year — you should report it to the SSA as soon as possible. Errors can significantly reduce your benefit. To correct an error, contact your local SSA office or call 1-800-772-1213. You will need to provide documents such as pay stubs, W-2 forms, or tax returns to prove the correct amount.

The SSA generally cannot correct earnings from more than three years, three months, and 15 days in the past unless you have documentary evidence. If you worked for an employer who did not report your wages correctly, you may need to contact the employer or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to resolve the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive Social Security if I never worked?

No, you cannot receive benefits based on your own work record if you never worked. However, you may receive benefits as a spouse, ex-spouse, child, or parent of someone who worked and earned 40 credits. You must meet the age and relationship requirements for the type of benefit you are claiming.

What happens if I claim Social Security early and then change my mind?

If you claim before your full retirement age, you can withdraw your claim within 12 months and repay all benefits you received. This resets your record as if you never claimed. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw your claim, but you can suspend your benefits at your full retirement age and let them grow until age 70. Suspended benefits earn delayed retirement credits.

Do I lose my benefits if I work after I start receiving Social Security?

If you claim before your full retirement age and earn more than the annual limit (which changes yearly), your benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can earn any amount without losing benefits. The reduction is temporary — your benefit increases later to account for the months it was reduced.

How do I know if my earnings record is correct?

Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view your earnings history. Compare it to your tax returns or W-2 forms. If you find an error, contact the SSA by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office. Bring documents that prove the correct amount, such as pay stubs or W-2 forms.

Can I receive benefits if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Yes, if you have a valid Social Security number and have earned 40 credits through work in the United States. You must also be a lawful permanent resident or have a specific visa status. Non-citizens who are outside the United States for more than six months may have restrictions on receiving benefits. Contact the SSA for details about your specific situation.