If you are planning for retirement or benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA), knowing how many credits you have is important.
Earning the required number of credits is a key step toward eligibility for retirement benefits, disability insurance, Medicare, and survivor benefits.
This article explains what credits are, how many you need, how you can check your credit total, and what happens if you are short.
What are Social Security work credits and how do I earn them?
When you work and pay Social Security taxes, the SSA awards “credits” (also called quarters of coverage) based on your earnings for the year.
In 2025, you need $1,810 of earnings to earn 1 credit.
You can earn no more than 4 credits per year, regardless of how much you earn beyond the threshold.
The credits you earn stay on your record even if you change jobs or stop working.
How many credits do I need to qualify for retirement benefits?
For most people (those born in 1929 or later), you must accumulate 40 credits to qualify for retirement benefits, which equals about 10 years of work at 4 credits per year.
Having earned 40 credits means you are considered “fully insured” for retirement eligibility.
It is not enough to simply pay taxes; you must earn the credits through covered employment or self-employment income subject to Social Security tax.
How can I find out how many credits I have earned so far?
You can check your credit total easily by logging into your “my Social Security” account on the SSA website.
The account shows your earnings history and the number of credits you have.
If you have not created an account yet, you can go to the SSA website to set one up.
The website also provides a PDF fact sheet, which confirms the credit thresholds and the 40-credit requirement.
What does it mean if I have fewer than 40 credits?
If you have fewer than 40 credits when you apply for retirement benefits, you generally won’t be eligible for those benefits on your own work record.
You can still earn additional credits by working longer until you reach 40.
The years do not have to be consecutive; credits accumulate over your lifetime.
For other benefit types (disability or survivors’ benefits), the minimum credit requirement may be lower and depends on your age at disability or the death of the worker.
What about checking my earnings record for accuracy?
It is important to review your earnings history because your benefit amount depends on your top 35 years of earnings (for retirement benefits).
If your earnings are reported incorrectly, then your credit count or future benefit could be affected.
You should log in periodically and check that each year shown matches your records. If you find a discrepancy, you should contact SSA.
Do credits beyond 40 increase my Social Security retirement benefit amount?
No, once you have earned the 40-credit minimum for retirement eligibility, earning additional credits beyond 40 will not increase your benefit amount directly.
The amount of your benefit depends instead on your earnings history (average indexed monthly earnings) and the age at which you begin claiming benefits.
What should I do if I am short of credits and nearing retirement?
If you discover you do not yet have 40 credits and are approaching retirement age, here are steps you should take:
- Review how many credits you currently have via your “my Social Security” account.
- Determine how many more credits you need to reach 40.
- Check how much earnings are required for each credit in the current year (for example, in 2025 one credit = $1,810).
- Consider working the extra years needed to earn the missing credits. Since you can earn up to 4 credits per year, sometimes one additional year of work may suffice.
- Ensure that the jobs you take are covered by Social Security (i.e., you pay into Social Security taxes).
