Older man sitting on a sofa with a worried expression and one hand on his forehead, with a superimposed image of Social Security and permanent resident cards over a United States flag — Be careful, you could end up without a dollar when you retire | Getty Images, Studioroman

Camara — Be careful, you could end up without a dollar when you retire | Getty Images, Studioroman

Social Security has made it clear to half of America: You can lose it

Millions of Americans may see their retirement clouded because they do not meet certain conditions

16/07/2025 11:33:00h

Miguel Cuartas Ortego

Millions of people in the United States dream of retiring after years of effort and work. However, not everyone is in a position to receive a monthly Social Security payment.

The SSA (Social Security Administration), in this case, has just released a statement explaining that, if you don't meet certain requirements, you won't be able to collect even a dollar when you retire.

What are the minimum requirements to collect SSA Social Security

SSA requires that anyone who wishes to collect a retirement pension must have accumulated at least 40 work credits over their lifetime. In most cases, this is equivalent to having worked for at least 10 years with reported income.

Elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair with several hundred-dollar bills in the foreground

Millions of people must keep this in mind | Billion Photos, Sasirin pamai's Images

Each year, you can earn up to 4 credits. In 2025, for example, you earn one credit for every $1,730 earned, up to a maximum of four credits per year. This means that, to accumulate the 40 required by SSA, you must have caused regular income for at least a decade (10 years).

Those who don't meet this criterion, unfortunately, won't be able to access any Social Security retirement benefits. This will happen regardless of their age, financial need, or health status.

What happens if you don't have enough credits with SSA

You can't buy SSA credits or obtain them by other means. You only accumulate them through income subject to Social Security taxes. If someone worked informally or didn't report income, those years won't count, so you must be careful.

A man in a suit holds a wad of bills and a sign that says

The payment may not arrive if the conditions aren't met | Grok

The only alternative is to keep working and generate more credits until you reach the required 40. SSA recommends checking your situation on their official website to know how many credits you've accumulated. In special cases, such as when a spouse meets the requirements, it's possible to access derivative benefits.

Meanwhile, SSA pays different amounts depending on the age at which a person retires. At age 62 (early retirement), the average payment is $1,298, and at full retirement age (66 or 67), it rises to $1,900. At age 70 (delayed retirement), you can receive up to $2,364 per month.

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