For millions of Americans, Social Security is a vital part of their financial future. Whether it’s for retirement, disability, or family survivor support, this federal program offers benefits that can help people stay afloat financially later in life.
However, not everyone qualifies automatically. To receive monthly Social Security benefits, you must meet certain work and contribution requirements-rules that are often misunderstood.
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At its core, Social Security is a system based on earned benefits. That means people must pay into the system to receive something back.
To be eligible for retirement benefits, most workers need to have contributed through payroll taxes for at least 10 years. These years don’t need to be consecutive, but they must reflect consistent earnings that generate Social Security credits. In 2024, for example, one credit was earned for every $1,730 in wages or self-employment income, up to a maximum of four credits per year.
Once a worker accumulates 40 credits-typically after 10 years-they meet the minimum requirement for retirement benefits. But even then, the size of the monthly check depends on lifetime earnings and the age at which benefits are claimed.
Family members may benefit-even if they haven’t paid into the system
While the rules are strict for individual workers, certain family members can qualify for benefits without having worked themselves. These benefits include spousal, ex-spousal, children’s, and survivor payments, all of which are calculated based on the work record of a qualifying contributor.
For instance, a nonworking spouse may be entitled to up to 50 percent of their partner’s benefit at full retirement age. Similarly, a divorced spouse could be eligible for benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they haven’t remarried. Survivor benefits are also available to widows, widowers, children, and sometimes even dependent parents.
“Social Security is an earned benefit,” the Social Security Administration emphasizes. This guiding principle applies across the board. People must contribute through taxes to be eligible-unless they fall into the defined categories of family dependents who are covered under a contributing worker’s history.
That includes legal immigrants. Noncitizens who are living and working in the U.S. legally are subject to the same rules as citizens. They pay into the system and receive credits just like anyone else. Once they meet the 40-credit requirement, they qualify for benefits.
The rules are different for undocumented workers. Despite the fact that many undocumented immigrants do pay payroll taxes-often using invalid or borrowed Social Security numbers-they are barred from receiving benefits.
A 2024 report by the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy revealed that undocumented workers contributed $25.7 billion to Social Security in 2022 alone. Those funds support the trust fund but offer no return to the contributors themselves.
Some younger disabled workers may qualify with fewer than 40 credits, depending on their age and how recently they worked. For example, someone disabled at age 24 might need just 6 credits earned in the past three years.