Make sure you’ve worked at least 10 years at an eligible job

If you want to make the most of your retirement benefits, you need to earn a minimum number of Social Security work credits. At present, you need at least ten years to accumulate the requirement of 40 credits. Moreover, in order to qualify, you should work or have worked for an employer that withholds Social Security payroll taxes from your paycheck.

This means almost everyone is included, excluding some state and municipal public sector jobs that provide alternative pension programs other than Social Security.

If you are not eligible for Social security benefits based on your own work record, the only way to have access to Social Security is through spousal or family benefits, based on another person’s work record.