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The Daily Insight

How many years do you have to work in the US to get Social Security?

Author

Andrew Mclaughlin

Published Apr 08, 2026

10 years
Anyone born in 1929 or later needs 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits.

Will Social Security come in 10 years?

Social Security does not now—and is unlikely in the future to—provide enough income for a comfortable retirement. If Social Security is reworked by Congress to extend its life, younger workers and high-income earners will likely be the ones to pay for it.

How many years are used for Social Security benefits?

35 years
Social Security benefits are based on your lifetime earnings. Your actual earnings are adjusted or “indexed” to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received. Then Social Security calculates your average indexed monthly earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most.

Anyone born in 1929 or later needs 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits. How many credits you need for disability benefits depends on how old you are when you become disabled.

How long does it take to get a SSN after marrying a US citizen?

You should receive your SSN card within 2 weeks after we have everything we need to process your application, including verification of your immigration document with the USCIS. If we are unable to immediately verify your immigration document with the USCIS, it may take 2 additional weeks to receive your card.

Does SSN change when married?

Your SSN is assigned at birth and, in most cases, never changes. You are not legally required to get a new Social Security card when you get married unless you change your name.

Can I get paid without SSN?

Despite the widespread misunderstanding that it is illegal for an employer to pay an employee who does not have an SSN, there is nothing in the law prohibiting it. On the other hand, employers of workers lacking SSNs are still required to pay them.

Who is eligible for SSN?

Generally, only noncitizens authorized to work in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can get a Social Security number. Social Security numbers are used to report a person’s wages to the government and to determine a person’s eligibility for Social Security benefits.

When do you get your spouses Social Security benefits?

You will receive your full spouse’s benefit amount if you wait until you reach full retirement age to begin receiving benefits. You will also receive the full amount if you are caring for a child entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record who is younger than age 16 or disabled.

How many years do you have to work to qualify for Social Security?

It depends. You must have worked legally in the U.S. for a total of 10 years, and earned 40 credits. You earn a maximum of 4 credits a year. For more information, see Social Security Credits – Qualifying for Social Security Benefits.

Do you need a Social Security number to work in the US?

the United States, you probably don’t need a Social Security number. Generally, only noncitizens authorized to work in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can get a Social Security number. Social Security numbers are used to report a person’s wages to the government and to determine

How many Social Security survivor credits can a spouse earn?

How Your Spouse Earns Social Security Survivors Benefits A worker can earn up to four credits each year . In 2021, for example, your spouse can earn one credit for each $1,470 of wages or self-employment income.