Key Points
To collect Social Security in retirement, you typically need 40 work credits in total.
If you never worked, you may still be able to collect benefits, albeit at a lower rate.
Social Security is a lifeline for millions of older Americans today. And for many people, the path to being eligible for benefits involves working and paying into the system.
Social Security's primary source of revenue is payroll taxes. As such, to qualify for benefits in retirement, you need to pay taxes on a certain amount of wages to accumulate work credits.
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In 2026, for example, the value of a single Social Security work credit is $1,890. In 2027, that value is rising to $1,970.
You can collect a maximum of four Social Security work credits per calendar year, and you need 40 total work credits in your lifetime to receive benefits in retirement. But if you never worked or have a minimal earnings history, you may not have those 40 credits by the time your senior years roll around.
The good news is that there may be another path toward collecting Social Security. It's important to know what options you have if your earnings history does not render you eligible for benefits.
Spousal benefits may be available to you
If you're married to someone who's eligible for Social Security benefits or are an eligible divorcee, you may be entitled to collect spousal Social Security benefits. But it's important to know how they work.
First, if you're married, you can't file for spousal Social Security benefits until your spouse signs up. If you're divorced, you may be able to get your spousal benefits before your former spouse files. Your ex-spouse also can't prevent you from claiming spousal benefits, and your claim doesn't impact the amount of money they get.
Secondly, spousal Social Security benefits max out at 50% of your current or former spouse's full retirement age benefit. And you can claim your spousal benefits in full at your full retirement age.
In other words, if your spouse gets $2,000 at their full retirement age, your spousal benefit is worth $1,000 if you claim it at your full retirement age. If you file early, which you can do starting at age 62, your spousal benefit will be reduced for life.
You also can't boost your spousal benefit by delaying your claim past full retirement age. Delayed retirement credits are available to Social Security recipients claiming benefits based on their own earnings records, but they don't apply to spousal benefits.
You may have more options than expected
If you never worked or barely worked, you might assume that Social Security is off the table. But you may be entitled to spousal Social Security benefits that can serve as a key source of income later in life.
The key is to make sure you understand how those benefits work, what they're worth, and when to file. The more you know about spousal benefits, the more helpful they might be to your finances.
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