How do I qualify for a Social Security Retirement monthly benefit?There are a couple of simple qualifications for Social Security retirement. An individual must have attained the age of 62 and have 40 work credits. How are work credits earned? You may receive as many as four work credits per year (i.e. per quarter) based on your gross earned income. For example, in 2006, a work credit was earned for each quarter in which a worker had gross earnings of at least $970.00. Therefore, it would take approximately 10 years of work credits (spread over thirty-five to forty years) to make an individual eligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits. Return to: Additional Social Security Retirement Questions |
