Understanding Social Security Work Credits and Benefits for Spouses and Survivors
To qualify for Social Security benefits, you need to meet certain work requirements, including earning a specific number of work credits over your lifetime. These credits are earned by working and paying Social Security taxes.
Required Work Credits for Social Security Benefits
- General Requirement: To qualify for Social Security benefits, you must typically have worked for about 10 years, earning 40 credits.
- How to Earn Credits: In 2025, you earn one Social Security credit for every $1,810 you make. The amount required to earn a credit increases each year with rising wages.
- Age Requirement: You also need to reach a certain age, depending on the benefit type. For retirement benefits, the minimum age is usually 62.
Benefits for Spouses with Fewer Than 40 Credits
If you haven’t earned 40 credits yourself, you may still be eligible for Social Security benefits through your spouse’s work history.
Living Spousal Benefits
- Eligibility: You don’t need 40 credits of your own to qualify for Social Security spousal benefits.
- Benefit Amount: The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of your spouse’s benefit at their full retirement age.
- Spouse’s Requirement: Your spouse must have earned at least 40 credits (approximately 10 years of work) to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, which then allows you to claim spousal benefits based on their earnings record.
Survivor Spousal Benefits
- Eligibility for Widows/Widowers: A widow or widower does not need 40 credits to qualify for Social Security survivor benefits.
- Spouse’s Requirement: The deceased spouse must have earned at least 40 credits to make their surviving spouse eligible for benefits, as this represents roughly 10 years of work.
Special Notes for Survivor Benefits
- Credits for Younger Deceased Workers: For those who die at a younger age, the number of credits required for survivor benefits can be as few as 6 credits, as long as they were earned in the 3 years prior to the death.
- Minor Children: Children of deceased or disabled parents are eligible to receive Social Security benefits until age 18, or age 19 if they are still in high school.
