U.S. Social Security retirement

Those who work in the U.S. and pay Social Security taxes can receive retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) once they accumulate enough credits. This page explains how credits are earned, the full retirement age, the effect of starting early or late on benefits, the rules for receiving benefits while working, additional requirements for foreign workers, and how to apply. The 2026 figures are taken from the official notice published by the SSA in the Federal Register.

• Retirement benefits depend on credits (quarters of coverage) earned by working in the U.S. and paying Social Security taxes.
• In 2026, every $1,890 in earnings earns 1 credit. You can earn a maximum of 4 credits in one year. Thus, someone who earns at least $7,560 in 2026 earns all 4 credits for that year.
• You generally need 40 credits, or about 10 years of work, to qualify. The SSA calls this being "fully insured."
• The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax is $184,500 in 2026. Social Security tax is not withheld from earnings above this amount.
• For tax rates and exemptions, see 17.2 Social Security tax (FICA).

• If your SSN was issued on or after January 1, 2004, one of the following two conditions must be met for your earnings to count toward retirement eligibility:
  • you must have received a work-authorized SSN at some point, or
  • you must have been admitted to the U.S. at least once with a B-1 (business visitor) visa or as a ship or aircraft crew member (D-1, D-2).
• If one of these conditions is met, all of your earnings on which Social Security taxes were paid will count. Your immigration status or work authorization at that time does not matter.
• If neither condition is met, you cannot qualify even if you appear to have enough credits. Your spouse and children also cannot receive benefits based on your record.
• People whose SSNs were issued before 2004 are exempt from this additional requirement.
• To receive benefits while in the U.S., you must be lawfully present.

• Full Retirement Age (FRA) varies according to your date of birth:
  • Born January 2, 1943 – January 1, 1955: 66
  • Born January 2, 1955 – January 1, 1956: 66 years 2 months
  • Born January 2, 1956 – January 1, 1957: 66 years 4 months
  • Born January 2, 1957 – January 1, 1958: 66 years 6 months
  • Born January 2, 1958 – January 1, 1959: 66 years 8 months
  • Born January 2, 1959 – January 1, 1960: 66 years 10 months
  • Born January 2, 1960 and later: 67
• You can start as early as age 62. Your benefit will be permanently reduced:
  • by 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months before your FRA (approximately 0.56% per month)
  • by 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond 36 months (approximately 0.42% per month)
  • Example: If someone whose FRA is 67 starts at 62, their benefit will be approximately 30% lower (36 months × 5/9 = 20%; 24 months × 5/12 = 10%).
• Starting late increases your benefit. For people born in 1943 or later, benefits increase by 2/3 of 1% for each month delayed after FRA, or 8% per year. This is called a delayed retirement credit.
• The increase stops at age 70. Waiting beyond age 70 does not increase your benefit.

• If you receive benefits before FRA and continue working, the earnings test applies:
  • For those who will reach FRA after 2026: $1 in benefits is withheld for every $2 earned above $24,480 per year ($2,040 per month).
  • For those who will reach FRA in 2026: $1 in benefits is withheld for every $3 earned above $65,160 per year ($5,430 per month) in the months before FRA.
• The earnings test does not apply after you reach FRA.
• 2026 benefits are paid with a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment effective January 2026.
• If you work outside the U.S. in a job not covered by U.S. Social Security, a different rule (45 hours per month) applies. See 17.5 Receiving U.S. retirement benefits in Turkey.

• The Social Security Fairness Act (Public Law 118-273, January 5, 2025) repealed the "Windfall Elimination Provision" (WEP) and "Government Pension Offset" (GPO) rules.
• The change applies to benefits for months after December 2023.
• WEP could reduce U.S. Social Security benefits for people receiving a pension from work not covered by U.S. Social Security taxes. A pension from a foreign country was also an example. This is an important change for people who also receive a pension from Turkey.

1. Check your record. Create a my Social Security account. View your earnings record and benefit estimates. Contact the SSA if you see an incorrect year.
2. Make estimates. Use the SSA's Retirement Estimator to compare your benefit at different starting ages.
3. Decide when to start. Take into account the permanent reduction for starting early and the increase for waiting until age 70.
4. Apply:
   • online, through your my Social Security account (the easiest and fastest option)
   • by phone: +1 800 772 1213 (TTY: +1 800 325 0778)
   • at your local SSA office
   • if you live in Turkey, by writing to the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Athens (see 17.5)
5. Consider Medicare separately. People who start receiving benefits at least 4 months before age 65 are automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B. Others must apply for Medicare separately (see 17.6 Medicare).

• Social Security Administration (SSA) — retirement applications, earnings records, benefit questions
  • Phone: +1 800 772 1213 (TTY: +1 800 325 0778)
  • Headquarters: 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235
  • Local office: SSA office locator
  • Online account: my Social Security
• Federal Benefits Unit (Athens) for residents of Turkey
  • Email: FBU.Athens@ssa.gov
  • Mail: Federal Benefits Unit, American Embassy, Vas. Sofias Ave 91, 10160 Athens, Greece

• Not knowing that the reduction for starting at age 62 is permanent.
• Failing to account for the earnings test while working before FRA.
• Not knowing that unauthorized work with an SSN issued after 2004 may not generate credits.
• Failing to check the earnings record for years.
• Assuming that waiting beyond age 70 will increase benefits.
• Forgetting that people who do not apply for retirement benefits must enroll in Medicare separately.

• Do the years I worked in Turkey count toward my U.S. retirement? No. There is no social security agreement between the two countries. See 17.4 Turkey–U.S. social security relations.
• What happens if I do not have 40 credits? They are not enough to receive retirement benefits on your own record. You can complete the missing credits by continuing to work.
• How much will my benefit be? Benefits are calculated based on your earnings history. You can view your personal estimate in your my Social Security account and in the estimator.
• I do not have a green card, but I worked with a work visa. Can I receive benefits? You may qualify if you have a work-authorized SSN and enough credits. You must be lawfully present to receive payments while in the U.S. For payments in Turkey, see 17.5.
• Are my retirement benefits taxable? Depending on your income, part of your benefits may be subject to income tax. The rules are in IRS Publication 915. For nonresidents of the U.S., see 17.5.
• How much will the 2027 increase be? The SSA announces and publishes the new rate in the Federal Register each year. The figures on this page are for 2026.

• my Social Security account
• Retirement Estimator
• Retirement Benefits – retirement brochure (PDF, SSA)
• How You Earn Credits – credit brochure (PDF, SSA)
• Form SSA-7004 – request for earnings statement (PDF)
• IRS Publication 915 – taxation of Social Security benefits (PDF)
• SSA office locator