Social Security Work Credits

What are Social Security credits?

• The “building blocks” used to find if you have the minimum amount of work to qualify for each type of SSA benefit.

• The amount of hours you work per year

• The amount of money you make per year

How many credits do you need to receive full retirement benefits at retirement age (67)?

• You need 40 credits (10 years of work)

• You need 30 credits (7.5 years of work)

• You need 20 credits (5 years of work)

• You automatically get them

How many credits do you need to be eligible for disability benefits?

• It depends on the age your disability started

• You automatically get them

• You need 15 credits

• None of these

True or False:

Social Security cannot pay you your full benefits if you do not have enough credits.

• True

• False

How many credits can you earn in one year?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Work credits are based on:

• Total wages (money earned) for the year

• Self-employment income for the year

• How many sick days you have left

• None of these

True or False:

Extra credits that you earn cannot be used to increase your benefit amount.

• True

• False

True or False:

The amount of credits you’ve earned determine your eligibility for Social Security benefits.

• True

• False

True or False:

All jobs have the same rules for earning Social Security Work Credits.

• True

• False

True or False:

You should NEVER check to be sure that your Social Security information is correct with your employer.

• True

• False