What Social Security Credits Are and How You Earn Them

Social Security credits are units of work history that the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to determine whether you can receive benefits and how much you will get. You earn credits by working and paying Social Security taxes — one credit per quarter of the year, up to a maximum of four credits per year. The amount of earnings required to earn one credit changes each year; in 2024, you need $1,730 in covered earnings to earn one credit in a single quarter.

You do not need to earn the $1,730 all at once. If you earn $6,920 in a year, you will earn four credits for that year regardless of when during the year you earned the money. Once you have earned a credit, you keep it forever — credits do not expire, and you cannot lose them if you stop working.

The SSA tracks your credits under your Social Security number. When you apply for retirement, disability, or survivor benefits, the agency pulls your complete work record and counts the credits you have accumulated over your lifetime.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn one Social Security credit for every $1,730 you earn in a quarter (the amount changes yearly), up to four credits per year.
  • Most people need 40 credits total to receive retirement benefits, which typically takes about 10 years of work.
  • You need fewer credits to receive disability or survivor benefits — the requirement depends on your age when you become disabled or die.
  • Credits are permanent once earned and do not disappear if you leave the workforce or take time off.
  • Self-employed people and wage earners both earn credits the same way, based on covered earnings reported to Social Security.

How Many Credits You Need for Different Types of Benefits

The number of credits required depends on which benefit you are seeking. For retirement benefits, you need 40 credits total — this usually means about 10 years of work. You can start receiving retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive will be reduced if you claim before your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year).

For disability benefits, the credit requirement is lower and depends on your age when you become disabled. If you become disabled before age 24, you typically need only 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 the time you became disabled. If you are 31 or older, you usually need 20 credits earned in the 10 years before you became disabled.

For survivor benefits — payments to your family if you die — your family members may be able to receive benefits based on your work record if you have earned enough credits at the time of your death. The number of credits needed varies by the age of your family members and their relationship to you, but generally ranges from 6 to 40 credits.

How Your Work Record Is Tracked and Verified

Your employer reports your earnings to the Social Security Administration each year using your Social Security number. Self-employed people report their earnings when they file their federal income tax return. The SSA maintains a record of all reported earnings under your number and updates your credit count automatically.

You can view your own work record by creating an account on ssa.gov and accessing your Social Security Statement. This statement shows the credits you have earned each year and an estimate of what your benefits might be at different ages. You should review this record periodically to make sure all your earnings have been reported correctly. If you spot an error — for example, earnings that were not credited to your account — you can contact the SSA to request a correction, though you generally have only three years, three months, and 15 days from the end of the year in which you earned the money to report the error.

If you worked under a different name or Social Security number in the past, tell the SSA so those earnings can be added to your record. Earnings under the wrong number will not count toward your credits.

Gaps in Work History and How They Affect Your Benefits

You do not need to work every single year to receive Social Security benefits. Once you have earned enough credits for the type of benefit you are seeking, you have met the requirement. However, gaps in your work history can affect the amount you receive, even if you have enough credits.

Social Security calculates your benefit amount by averaging your earnings over your highest-earning years. The exact calculation depends on the type of benefit, but generally the SSA looks at your 35 highest-earning years (for retirement) or a shorter period (for disability). Years with zero earnings — when you were not working — are included in this average and lower your benefit amount. This means that even if you have 40 credits and are may have access to to retirement benefits, taking years off work will reduce the monthly payment you receive.

Some people can exclude certain years from this calculation. For example, if you took time off to raise children, you may be able to exclude some of those years. The rules for this are complex and depend on your specific situation, so contact the SSA directly if you had extended periods without earnings.

Credits for Government Workers and Non-Covered Employment

Most workers in the United States pay Social Security taxes and earn credits. However, some government employees — particularly those hired before certain dates by federal, state, or local governments — may not pay Social Security taxes and therefore do not earn credits under the standard system.

If you worked for a government employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes, you will not have credits for that work. This can affect your benefit amount if you later work in a job that does pay Social Security taxes. The SSA has special rules called the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision that may reduce your benefits if you have a government pension and also receive Social Security. These rules are complicated, and if you have worked for a government employer, you should contact the SSA to understand how your benefits will be calculated.

What Happens If You Do Not Have Enough Credits

If you reach retirement age but do not have 40 credits, you will not receive retirement benefits based on your own work record. However, you may still have other options. If you are married or were previously married, you might be able to receive benefits based on your spouse's or ex-spouse's work record, even if you do not have 40 credits of your own. The rules for spousal and ex-spousal benefits are detailed and depend on your age, your spouse's age, and how long you were married.

If you do not have enough credits for disability benefits, you cannot receive those benefits based on your own work record. However, if you are the child of a worker who is receiving retirement or disability benefits, or if you are the child of a deceased worker, you may be able to receive child benefits based on that parent's record.

If you are not yet at retirement age and do not have enough credits to receive disability benefits, you can continue working to earn more credits. The SSA will recalculate your record each year, and once you have earned enough credits, you will become may have access to to benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn credits if I work part-time or have multiple jobs?

Yes. You earn credits based on total earnings in a quarter, regardless of whether the earnings come from one job or multiple jobs. If you earn $1,730 or more in a quarter across all your work, you earn one credit for that quarter. You cannot earn more than four credits in a single year, even if you earn much more than the threshold.

What if I worked in another country — do those years count?

Work in another country generally does not count toward Social Security credits unless you were working for a U.S. employer or the U.S. government. Some countries have agreements with the United States that allow work in those countries to count, but this varies. Contact the SSA if you have worked abroad.

Do I need to do anything to keep my credits, or do I lose them if I stop working?

You do not need to do anything. Once you earn a credit, it is yours permanently. You cannot lose credits by taking time off work, retiring, or moving to another state or country. Your credits stay on your record until you use them to claim benefits.

How do I know if my earnings were reported correctly to Social Security?

Create an account at ssa.gov and view your Social Security Statement, which shows your earnings history and credits by year. Review it for accuracy. If you see earnings that were not credited or earnings credited to the wrong year, contact the SSA with documentation (like tax returns or W-2 forms) to request a correction.