To know if you have 40 credits for Social Security, you need to check your Social Security work credits. Each credit is earned based on your earnings and paying Social Security taxes, and you can earn up to 4 credits per year. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires 40 credits (equivalent to about 10 years of work) to qualify for retirement benefits. You can easily check how many credits you have by creating a My Social Security account on the SSA website. Once logged in, your Social Security Statement will show the total number of credits you've earned. If you are 60 or older, you may also receive this statement by mail before your birthday each year. Credits remain on your record even if you stop working or change jobs, and earning 40 credits is required for eligibility for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits. The amount of earnings required per credit changes annually; for example, in 2025, one credit is earned for each $1,810 of earnings, up to a maximum of 4 credits per year.
