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How You Earn CreditsSSA Publication No. 05-10072, January 2009, ICN 467510 [View .pdf] (En Español) |
The credits are based on the amount of your earnings. We use your work history to determine your eligibility for retirement or disability benefits or your family’s eligibility for survivors benefits when you die. In 2009, you receive one credit for each $1,090 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year. Each year the amount of earnings needed for credits goes up slightly as average earnings levels increase. The credits you earn remain on your Social Security record even if you change jobs or have no earnings for a while
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Special rules for some jobsSpecial rules for earning Social Security coverage apply to certain types of work. If you are self-employed, you earn Social Security credits the same way employees do (one credit for each $1,090 in net earnings, but no more than four credits per year). Special rules apply if you have net annual earnings of less than $400. For more information, ask for If You Are Self-Employed (Publication No. 05-10022). If you are in the military, you earn Social Security credits the same way civilian employees do. You also may get additional earnings credits under certain conditions. For more information, ask for Military Service And Social Security (Publication No. 05-10017). We also have special rules about how you earn credits for other kinds of work. Some of these jobs are—
Call us if you have a question about how you earn credits in your job.
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How long must you work to qualify for Social Security?The number of credits you need to be eligible for benefits depends on your age and the type of benefit. Retirement benefitsAnyone born in 1929 or later needs 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits. People born before 1929 need fewer years of work. Disability benefitsHow many credits you need for disability benefits depends on how old you are when you become disabled.
Survivors benefitsWhen a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain members of the family may be eligible for survivors benefits. Up to 10 years of work is needed to be eligible for benefits, depending on the person’s age at the time of death. Survivors of very young workers may be eligible if the deceased worker was employed for 1½ years during the three years before his or her death. Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to:
MedicareThe Social Security credits you earn also count toward eligibility for Medicare when you reach age 65. You may be eligible for Medicare at an earlier age if you get disability benefits for 24 months or more. Those who have permanent kidney failure or get disability benefits because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) do not have to wait 24 months to receive Medicare coverage. Your dependents or survivors also may be eligible for Medicare at age 65 or earlier if they are disabled. People who have permanent kidney failure and need kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant may be eligible for Medicare at any age based on a spouse’s or parent’s earnings as well as their own. If you would like to have more information about Medicare, contact us and ask for Medicare (Publication No. 05-10043). |
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Not every kind of work counts toward Social SecurityNot all employees work in jobs covered by Social Security. Some of these employees are—
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Make sure your records are accurateEach year your employer sends a copy of your W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) to Social Security. Social Security compares your name and Social Security number on the W-2 with our records. When we find your name and number, your earnings shown on the W-2 are recorded on your lifelong earnings record. Your lifelong earnings record is what we use to figure whether you can get future benefits and the benefit amount. It is critical that your name and Social Security number on your Social Security card agree with your employer’s payroll records and W-2. If they do not agree, your employer may get a letter from Social Security. This letter does not mean that your employer should change your job, lay you off, fire you or take other action against you. You need to correct the error. It is up to you to make sure both records are correct. If your Social Security card is not correct, contact any Social Security office. Tell your employer if your name and Social Security number are incorrect on the employer’s record. |
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Contacting Social SecurityOur website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security’s programs. There are a number of things you can do online. In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. We treat all calls confidentially. We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls. |
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