Credits Necessary for Retirement and Survivor Benefits
Depending on your year of birth, you must earn a certain amount of credits before you are eligible for "fully insured" status. Read this for more details.
Work as a member of the uniformed service
of the U.S. is covered by Social Security beginning January 1, 1957,
if performed while on active duty or active duty for training. This
work is not covered by Social Security during any period when you
are on leave without pay, or if the work is creditable under the Railroad
Retirement Act.
Your work as a member of the Armed Forces reserve, while on inactive
duty training (such as weekend drills), is covered beginning January
1, 1988. This work is not covered by Social Security during any period
when you are on leave without pay, or if the work is creditable under
the Railroad Retirement Act.
Before 1957, the service of a member of the Armed Forces of the U.S.
was not covered by Social Security. However, you may be given military
service "wage credits" for Social Security purposes based on this
service.
The number of Social Security credits you earn determine if you have:
A. Fully insured status;
B. Currently insured status; or
C. Insured status for establishing a period of disability.
For people born on or after January 2, 1913, the number of credits
needed to be fully insured is the same for men and women. The chart
below shows the number of credits you need if you were born on or
after January 2, 1913.
ACTIVE DUTY
RESERVE
NATIONAL GUARD
VETERANS
RETIREES
