What determines whether you receive Social Security payments
Social Security payments go to people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes, reached a certain age, or have a disability or survivor status that the Social Security Administration recognizes. You do not automatically receive payments just by reaching 62 or 65 — you must meet one of these conditions, and you must have earned enough work credits during your working years.
The amount you receive depends on your age when you start taking payments, how much you earned over your lifetime, and which type of benefit you are receiving. Someone who waits until 70 to start gets a larger monthly payment than someone who starts at 62, even though the person who started earlier will have received more total money by age 80.
Work credits are the foundation. You earn one credit for each $1,705 of wages or self-employment income you report in 2024 (this amount changes yearly). Most people need 40 credits total to receive retirement benefits — that is roughly 10 years of full-time work. Younger workers need fewer credits to receive disability or survivor benefits.
Key Takeaways
- You need 40 work credits (earned over roughly 10 years of work) to receive retirement benefits, though younger workers need fewer credits for disability or survivor benefits.
- Retirement payments can start as early as 62, but waiting until your full retirement age or 70 results in a larger monthly payment.
- You can check your work record and earnings history through your personal Social Security account at ssa.gov.
- Non-citizens may receive payments if they have a valid Social Security number and meet the same work credit requirements as citizens.
- If you are still working, your benefits may be reduced if you earn above a certain amount before reaching your full retirement age.
Retirement benefits and the age you can start
You can begin receiving retirement benefits as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently lower than if you wait. The Social Security Administration calls your full retirement age the point at which you receive your full benefit amount — this age is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67.
If you delay past your full retirement age, your benefit grows by about 8 percent per year until age 70. Someone born in 1960 who waits from 67 to 70 will receive roughly 24 percent more per month than someone who started at 67. This larger payment continues for the rest of your life, so the math of whether to wait depends on your health and family history.
You do not have to stop working to receive retirement benefits, but if you are under your full retirement age and earn more than $23,400 in 2024, the Social Security Administration will reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit.
Disability benefits and how they work
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays workers who cannot work because of a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. You do not have to be completely unable to work — the Social Security Administration looks at whether you can do any substantial work, which means earning more than about $1,550 per month in 2024.
The work credit requirement for disability is lower than for retirement. If you are under 24, you may need only 6 credits earned in the past 3 years. If you are 24 to 30, you typically need 20 credits with half earned in the past 3 years. At 31 and older, you generally need 20 credits earned in the past 10 years. Your age when the disability began determines which rule applies.
Disability payments are based on your earnings record, just like retirement benefits. Family members — a spouse, ex-spouse, or children under 19 (or 23 if in school full-time) — may also receive payments based on your work record. These family payments do not reduce your own benefit amount.
Survivor benefits for family members
If you die, your family may receive survivor benefits based on your work record. Your spouse at any age can receive benefits if caring for your child under 16. Your spouse at 60 or older (50 or older if disabled) can receive a reduced or full benefit. Your children under 19 (or 23 if in school full-time) and unmarried children who became disabled before 22 can also receive payments.
A surviving ex-spouse can receive benefits on your record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62, and they are not remarried (unless they remarried after age 60). Each family member receives a portion of your benefit amount, and the total paid to all family members cannot exceed 150 to 180 percent of what you would have received.
You do not need to do anything for your family to be may be able to access — the Social Security Administration will identify them when processing a death claim. However, family members should contact Social Security as soon as possible after a death to begin the process.
Non-citizens and Social Security payments
Non-citizens can receive Social Security benefits if they have a valid Social Security number and meet the same work credit requirements as U.S. citizens. Your citizenship status does not affect your may be able to access based on your own work record.
Non-citizens living outside the United States face different rules depending on their country of residence and visa status. Some countries have agreements with the United States that allow payments to continue. Others do not, and benefits may stop if you leave the country for more than 6 months. You can check your specific situation by contacting the Social Security Administration or visiting ssa.gov.
If you are a non-citizen receiving benefits and you move to another country, you must report the move to Social Security. Failure to report can result in overpayments that you will be asked to repay.
How to check your work record and earnings history
The Social Security Administration maintains a record of your earnings and work credits. You can view this record by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You will need your Social Security number, email address, and a way to verify your identity — usually a phone number, U.S. address, or bank account.
Your account shows your estimated retirement benefit at different ages, your disability and survivor benefit estimates, and your complete earnings history year by year. You should review this history to make sure it is accurate, because errors can reduce your benefits. If you find an error, you can report it through your account or by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
If you do not have internet access or prefer to speak with someone, you can visit a local Social Security office or call the main number. Wait times are often shorter early in the week and early in the day.
Earnings limits and working while receiving benefits
If you receive retirement benefits before your full retirement age and continue working, your benefits will be reduced if your earnings exceed the annual limit. For 2024, that limit is $23,400. The reduction is $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit.
In the year you reach your full retirement age, there is a different limit that applies only to earnings before the month you reach that age. For 2024, this limit is $62,400, and the reduction is $1 for every $3 earned above it. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit at all.
This earnings test applies only to retirement benefits taken before full retirement age. Disability benefits have no earnings limit — if you are receiving SSDI and your earnings show you can do substantial work, your benefits will end, but there is no partial reduction based on how much you earn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive Social Security if I did not work for 10 years straight?
Yes. You need 40 work credits total, but they do not have to be consecutive. You can earn credits over 15 years, take 5 years off, and earn more credits later. The Social Security Administration counts all credits you have earned at any point in your life.
What happens if I was married multiple times?
You can receive benefits on the record of any ex-spouse if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62, and you are not currently married. You do not need permission from your ex-spouse, and receiving benefits on their record does not reduce their own benefit amount.
Do I need to report my income every year?
If you are receiving retirement benefits before your full retirement age and working, you should report your expected annual earnings to Social Security. You can do this through your online account or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Reporting early helps avoid overpayments.
Can I change my mind after I start receiving benefits?
You can withdraw your process within 12 months of starting benefits and repay what you received. This resets your claim and allows you to start again at a later age with a higher payment. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw, but you can suspend your benefits at full retirement age to let them grow.
What if the Social Security Administration says I do not have enough credits?
You can request a detailed earnings record and review it for errors. If you find missing earnings, you can report them with tax documents or W-2s. If you genuinely do not have 40 credits, you may still be may be able to access for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a different program for people with low income and limited resources.