Health & Benefits

Your eligibility for some types of Social Security benefits is based on your work record. When you work and pay into Social Security, you earn credits toward Social Security benefits. The length of time that you need to work to earn enough credits depends on whether you are seeking benefits based on disability or retirement and your age at the time of disability or retirement.

You may be eligible for Social Security benefits if you are:

• A retired worker or a worker with a disability who paid into Social Security,
• The current spouse of a worker receiving benefits if you meet certain other requirements, such as being married for at least a year or having a child in common and are either 62 years old or care for a child of the worker who is under 16 years old or has a disability,
• The divorced spouse of a worker, even if the worker (your former spouse) is not retired, as long as both you and your former spouse are at least 62 years old, you were married for at least 10 years, you have been divorced at least 2 years, and you have not gotten married again,
• A deceased worker's widow or widower who is at least 60 years old or, if disabled, at least 50 years old,
• The surviving divorced spouse of a deceased worker, if you meet certain other requirements,
• The dependent child of a worker receiving benefits,
• The surviving dependent child of a deceased worker,
• The surviving dependent parent of a deceased worker, if the parent is at least 62 years old, or 
• The adult child of a disabled, retired, or deceased worker and you are at least 18 years old, have a disability that began before you turned 22, and are not married. 

Social Security Retirement Benefits 

The number of credits you need to get Social Security retirement benefits depends on when you were born. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need a total of 40 credits or 10 years of work to qualify. You can apply for Social Security retirement benefits when you reach age 62. But, your monthly benefits will be less than if you reach your full retirement age before you apply to start your benefits. 

Your full retirement age varies based on when you were born. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider you fully retired if you were born:

• Between 1943--1954 your full retirement age is 66,
• In 1955 your full retirement age is 66 and 2 months,
• In 1956 your full retirement age is 66 and 4 months,
• In 1957 your full retirement age is 66 and 6 months,
• In 1958 your full retirement age is 66 and 8 months,
• In 1959 your full retirement age is 66 and 10 months, and
• In 1960 and later your full retirement age is 67.

Once you reach your full retirement age, you can earn money and not risk having your monthly Social Security benefits reduced. If you choose to get benefits before you reach full retirement age, your monthly benefit will be reduced if you work and earn more than the annual limit. The SSA reduces your benefits by 50% of the amount you earn over the cap, so $1 would be deducted from your Social Security check for every $2 you earn above the cap. The limit in 2025 is $23,400.

You can get your highest monthly benefit amount if you wait until 70 to get your Social Security retirement. Your full retirement age isn't the age when you get the maximum benefit. No matter when you were born, 70 is the age when you can get the maximum benefit.  

[no-lexicon]Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)[/no-lexicon] Benefits

Usually, you need a total of 40 credits or 10 years of work to qualify for SSDI. 20 quarters must be within the 10 years before your disability began. However, workers who became disabled before the age of 31 may qualify with fewer credits. 

You can get SSDI if you are unable to work because of a physical or mental impairment that has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months or will result in death. Medical evidence documenting your condition is required. The SSA uses a 5-step process in deciding whether you have a disability:

• Step 1: Are you working and earning more than $1,620 per month (or more than $2,700 per month if you are blind)? If yes, then SSA will probably not consider you not disabled. There are some narrow exceptions to the earnings limit, such as if you work in a sheltered workshop or if you have expenses you have to pay to be able to work. If you are not earning more than the monthly limits, go to Step 2.
• Step 2: Do you have a medical condition that significantly limits your physical or mental ability to perform basic work activities? If yes, go to Step 3.
• Step 3: Is your medical condition on SSA's "Listing of Impairments" for Adults? If yes, then SSA considers you disabled. You may also be considered disabled if your condition is similar to and as severe as an impairment that is on the list. If no, go to Step 4.
• Step 4: Are you physically and mentally able to return to a job that you have held within the past 5 years? If yes, then SSA considers you not disabled. If no, go to Step 5. Note: In 2024, the time period for past relevant work (PRW) decreased from 15 years to 5 years. Also, the SSA will not consider work that started and stopped in less than 30 calendar days to be PRW. 
• Step 5: Do your age, education, and work experience allow you to perform other types of work despite your limitations? If no, then SSA considers you disabled.

The SSDI application and appeals process may take many months or even years to be approved for benefits. It's best to apply for SSDI as soon as possible. The SSA calculates the starting date for paying benefits based on the date your disability began and the date you applied. This includes possible back benefits from the time you waited for approval. If you are eligible for SSDI and SSI, you should apply for both, as SSDI does not pay benefits for the first 5 months that you are disabled. SSI pays benefits back to one month after you applied as long as you were already disabled then. 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits

SSI is a financial assistance program for people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Unlike Social Security Retirement and SSDI benefits, SSI is not based on your work history. You may be eligible for SSI even if you have never worked or do not have the work credits required for SSDI. 

Learn more about SSI eligibility.