Social Security credits are accumulated by earning income and paying payroll taxes on that income. But if you fail to accumulate at least 40 Social Security credits during your working life, you’re likely ineligible to receive retirement benefits.
Bottom Line Personal asked Social Security expert Martha Shedden what people need to know about Social Security credits…
It typically takes one full decade of employment to earn 40 credits
It doesn’t take very much earned income to receive each Social Security credit. In 2025, just $1,810 of earned income was sufficient for one credit. The maximum number of credits that you can earn in a year is four—in 2025, earning $7,240 was enough to reach that four-credit max. With a four-credit-per-year limit, it takes at least 10 years of work to reach the 40 required Social Security credits.
Lower earnings qualified for credits in earlier years
The amount of earned income required to receive each credit has increased over time to keep pace with inflation. If someone’s career began long ago, he/she might have received credits even in years with extremely modest earned income. Examples: In 1980, $290 earned a credit…in 1990, $520…in 2000, $780…and in 2010, $1,120. Prior to 1978, wages of just $50 during a calendar quarter was sufficient to earn a credit.
Just because you’re eligible for benefits doesn’t mean you’ll get a big benefit
Working 10 years and earning 40 Social Security credits is sufficient to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits—but one decade of work, on its own, will not produce a substantial retirement benefit. When the Social Security Administration calculates the size of someone’s retirement benefit, it bases the amount on that person’s top 35 inflation-adjusted earnings years. If someone works only 10 years, there will be 25 zeros factored into that calculation, resulting in a low monthly benefit. If you’re wondering, What is the minimum Social Security benefit with 40 credits? the answer varies based on several factors, but it can be less than $140 per month.
There’s no cut-off date for earning credits
If someone comes up short of 40 credits, he/she can earn additional credits at any age—even if he is already past his Social Security full retirement age. Taking a part-time or seasonal retirement job could be sufficient to earn four credits per year. Example: A woman accumulated approximately 35 credits in her 20s before leaving the workforce to raise a family. She took a part-time job in her 60s for portions of two years to earn the five or so credits she needed to reach 40.
Open a “my Social Security account” at SSA.gov/myaccount to confirm that you have 40 credits
People who set up these accounts can view and download a statement that details how many credits they’ve earned so far…and confirm they’ve earned enough to qualify for retirement benefits.
Social Security disability eligibility rules are more flexible
The number of credits required to receive disability benefits depends on the age at which someone became disabled—the younger he/she was, the fewer credits he needs. Example: If someone is disabled before age 24, he/she typically needs only to have earned six credits during the preceding three years.
