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How Long Must I Work to Earn Social Security? - GoBankingRates
Many American workers, of course, spend an entire career contributing to Social Security and are, thus, easily entitled to a benefit when they reach their retirement age. But what about those who don’t spend an entire lifetime contributing to Social Security? Well, thanks to Social Security’s entitlement criteria, you don’t need to work a lifetime to be eligible for retirement benefits, but you do need to work and earn at least 40 “quarters of credit.” And since you can earn a maximum of 4 quarters of credit per year, most people must work for at least 10 years to be eligible for Social Security. There are, of course, special rules which govern benefit eligibility, all of which are discussed in this GoBankingRates article by David Nadelle. Click here to read more.
Also, if you’re unsure about how these basics apply to you, or if you have any questions about your individual situation under Social Security, note that the AMAC Foundation provides a free-to-the-public service to help Americans navigate the complexities of this program. Learn more about it here…