How to Earn Work Credits for Social Security
Learn how Social Security work credits are earned, what they mean for your future benefits, and how to track your progress.
Social Security provides a financial safety net for millions of Americans, offering benefits in retirement, during disability, and to survivors of deceased workers. Eligibility for these benefits hinges on an individual’s work history, which is measured in Social Security work credits. Understanding how these credits are earned and accumulated is fundamental to securing future financial protections. The accumulation of these credits over a working career directly impacts the types of benefits one may qualify for.
What Are Social Security Work Credits
Social Security work credits represent units of earnings that individuals accumulate throughout their working lives. These credits are the building blocks for determining eligibility for various Social Security benefits. They are earned through income from employment or self-employment that is subject to Social Security taxes.
For 2025, an individual earns one Social Security credit for every $1,810 in covered earnings. This specific dollar amount is adjusted annually to account for changes in average wages across the economy. While the earnings threshold changes each year, the maximum number of credits an individual can earn in a single calendar year remains consistent.
Regardless of how much an individual earns, they can only accrue a maximum of four work credits each year. To earn all four credits in 2025, an individual must have total covered earnings of at least $7,240. This means that even someone with very high earnings will still only receive four credits for the year, just as someone earning exactly the minimum amount will. The purpose of these credits is to establish a basic level of work contribution, not to directly influence the amount of future benefits, which is primarily based on lifetime average earnings.
How Work Credits Are Accumulated
When an individual works for an employer, a portion of their wages is withheld as Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax, which includes Social Security and Medicare taxes. Employers are responsible for reporting these earnings to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and remitting the corresponding taxes. The reported wages then translate into work credits for the individual.
For self-employed individuals, work credits are accumulated based on their net earnings from self-employment. These earnings are subject to the Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA) tax, which covers Social Security and Medicare. To earn credits, a self-employed person’s net earnings must meet the annual threshold for each credit, similar to how employed individuals earn credits. If net earnings are less than $400 for the year, generally no Social Security credits are earned.
Income that counts towards earning credits typically includes wages, salaries, and net earnings from self-employment. This encompasses most forms of compensation for work performed. Certain types of income, such as investment income, capital gains, or earnings not subject to Social Security taxes, generally do not contribute to work credits. Special rules may apply to specific types of work, including domestic work, farm work, or military service, which can affect how credits are earned.
The system allows individuals to earn their four annual credits relatively quickly if their earnings are concentrated early in the year. For example, if an individual earns the required $7,240 for four credits in the first few months of 2025, they will have earned all their credits for that year. No additional credits can be earned for the remainder of the year, regardless of further earnings.
Work Credit Requirements for Social Security Benefits
The number of Social Security work credits needed to qualify for benefits varies depending on the type of benefit and the age of the applicant. These credit requirements determine whether an individual is considered “fully insured,” “currently insured,” or “disability insured.” Each status dictates eligibility for different Social Security protections.
To be considered “fully insured,” which is generally required for retirement benefits, an individual needs 40 work credits. This typically means having worked for at least 10 years, as a maximum of four credits can be earned per year. Once fully insured, an individual becomes eligible for retirement benefits upon reaching the minimum age. Spouses and dependents may also qualify for benefits based on the fully insured worker’s record.
For survivor benefits, the number of credits required for family members of a deceased worker depends on the worker’s age at the time of death. While 40 credits are the maximum required, younger workers may need fewer credits. For instance, a worker could be “currently insured” with as few as six credits earned in the three years preceding their death, making certain survivor benefits available.
Disability benefits have specific work credit requirements that also vary by age. Generally, to qualify for disability benefits, individuals aged 31 or older need to have accumulated at least 20 credits in the 10 years immediately before their disability began. Younger individuals require fewer credits; for example, those under age 24 may need only six credits earned in the three years before their disability.
Checking Your Social Security Work Record
Regularly reviewing your Social Security work record is a prudent step to ensure the accuracy of your earnings history and to monitor your progress toward benefit eligibility. The most straightforward way to access this information is through the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) official website. Individuals can create a personal “my Social Security” account to view their earnings record and an estimate of future benefits.
To set up an online account, individuals typically provide personal identifying information, such as their name, date of birth, Social Security number, and a valid mailing address. The SSA employs security measures to verify identity before granting access to the account. Once an account is established, users can instantly view their complete earnings history, the number of work credits earned, and personalized benefit estimates for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
For those who prefer a paper statement or cannot access the online service, a Social Security Statement can be requested by mail. This statement provides the same detailed information available online, including a year-by-year breakdown of reported earnings and accrued credits.
If any discrepancies are found in the work record, such as missing or incorrect earnings, it is important to contact the SSA promptly. Individuals may need to provide documentation, such as W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns, to support their claim. Correcting errors in the earnings record ensures that all earned credits are properly counted, which is crucial for determining future benefit eligibility and amounts.