Retirement is one of the most important stages of life and, for this reason, it's essential to know how the SSA system works. In recent years, there have been changes in the age required to retire with 100% of the benefit, especially under the administration of Social Security.
These adjustments aim to ensure the system's long-term sustainability and directly affect millions of workers who are planning their retirement.
How many years do you have to work to retire in the United States
Since 1978, SSA states that you can only earn up to 4 credits per year worked. To earn each credit, in 2025 you must earn at least $1,810. That is, to reach the annual maximum, you'll need to earn a minimum of $7,240.
Meanwhile, to begin the process and access SSA Social Security, you must accumulate a minimum of 40 work credits. This figure corresponds to a total of 10 years of work. In addition, it's important to note that credits aren't granted automatically, but will depend on the applicant's annual income.
With this information in hand, SSA states that a worker must have been active for at least 10 consecutive years. They must also meet the income level. This way, they'll be able to collect the 40 credits required to obtain retirement.
SSA reminds the minimum age for retirement
Another important fact to consider is the minimum age required to retire. In this regard, SSA allows you to apply starting at age 62. However, this is considered early retirement, which reduces the payments you'll receive.
Meanwhile, those who wish to delay their application until age 70 will receive an 8% annual increase in the benefit for each year. "We'll add 8% to your benefit for each full year you postpone receiving Social Security benefits after reaching full retirement age," SSA states.
As for full retirement age, for those born in 1959, it's 66 years and 10 months as of 2025. Likewise, as SSA details, for those born from 1960 onward, this figure is delayed until age 67.