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8 Types of Americans Who Aren’t Eligible to Get Social Security

May 24, 2022 · Updated April 3, 2023 · Retirement Life
Work credits
Photo by Lee Charlie from Shutterstock

1. Workers Who Don’t Have Enough Work Credits

You can’t get Social Security if you never worked. That’s a fact. According to the SSA, to qualify for these retirement benefits you need to have at least 40 work credits, the equivalent of a total of 10 years of work. More exactly, if you receive in 2022 one credit for each $1,510 in income, then you can earn the highest of 4 credits per year.

For those who earn the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, they will need 208.28 hours of work to get one credit toward Social Security. If this is your case, you can obtain the maximum credits per year by working 17 hours per week for 50 weeks at this income and still giving yourself a two-week off. This means that even part-time workers can collect credits without too much trouble.

It’s worth mentioning that earned credits never expire. Let’s say John has left the labor force with close to 40 credits and now he wants to get rehired. Anyone in this situation, John included, can go back to work to earn those additional credits they need to qualify.

Curious to find out how many credits you have? You can open a Social Security account on their website and download your statement.

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40 comments on “8 Types of Americans Who Aren’t Eligible to Get Social Security”

  1. Gale David says:
    April 27, 2025 at 7:40 pm

    I too worked in the getting social security withheld before and after my tenure with the Federal Government. I have received NONE of my withheld SS funds. But I get my annual reports of how much of my money the government is holding! I worked for it and earned it but my money isn’t even accruing interest. Please return
    MY EARNED MONEY to me. I could eradicate a signnificant ant portion of my debt and a tually live on my ension.

    Reply
  2. {owner Of Change says:
    April 27, 2025 at 3:24 pm

    Everyone who has been screwed should ,at let, understand that he system was build to get your money and not to give you money back, The powers that are in charge have had 100s of year to perfect the system and until the whole system is dismantled and competent aggressive move made to do that which works for ALL is put silently in place, There will be to other way except the one that is and has been for many decades. There are wats to do that which is needed but can only be done in silence and innovative ways. Let’s put creative thinking in place and start with the youthful minds, who are clear thinker, to regulate CHANGE!!!!

    ALL has the POWER and that’s where change starts.

    Reply
  3. SAAFE says:
    April 27, 2025 at 11:53 am

    You say illegals are receiving benefits that’s not true. Only Green card holders are eligible for Social Security benefits and that is a fact. As a Medicare Broker and Social Security intake specialist the federal government doesn’t give illegal immigration any federal benefits, not SNAP benefits, drivers license or voter’s regulations access. Please stop spreading conspiracy theories. Read the statues first before spewing misinformation.

    Reply
  4. Cynthia E Miller says:
    April 27, 2025 at 7:01 am

    I am a nurse living in az. I am working for a state facility. Does this mean even though I put in my 40 quarters before I started working for the state I won’t receive my SSI

    Reply
  5. Charles M Bunner says:
    April 9, 2025 at 12:11 pm

    Charles Bunner
    I served and retired from the Military 1954-1974 and became a Postal Employee and when
    Reagan became President a law was ENACTED known as the Windfall Elimination Program
    and when I became eligible to receive SOCIAL SECURITY in 2000, I did not receive my full
    earned benefits until CY2024 after Congress corrected the problem ONLY for CY2024.

    WHAT HAPPENED to those earned benefits between CY2000 and CY2024, since I became age ninety on 02/26/2025?

    Reply
  6. John F says:
    March 29, 2025 at 3:20 am

    This story forgot to mention. That felons in prison do not receive there SS while they are in prison.

    Reply
  7. Ann says:
    March 27, 2025 at 10:37 pm

    The complaints inthe above need to see if the changes in WEP and Gpo might give them some money.

    Reply
  8. Barry says:
    December 26, 2024 at 6:52 pm

    I have a friend who was born and educated in the UK, taught in several European countries and in Africa before immigrating to the USA, where he has been a citizen for 20+ years. Here he taught in private schools (not public), so he paid into SS all those years.
    While he does receive SS benefits, those were reduced by about $500 a month because he also receives retirement benefits from at least one foreign country (where he had paid into its retirement system).
    So WHY the deduction, if he paid into SS all the years he worked here?

    Reply
  9. Clarence says:
    December 26, 2024 at 5:11 pm

    The wpo and gpo were just repealed, President Biden needs to sign it into law. too late for a lot of us government workers.

    Reply
  10. Donna says:
    December 26, 2024 at 4:48 pm

    The COLA this year is a joke, I got a whole $13.80 increase not even enough for a day worth of groceries what the HELL!!!!!

    Reply
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