Social Security in the United States is the economic foundation of retirement for millions of people. This federal program provides monthly payments to those who have worked legally in the country and contributed for a sufficient period of time during their working life.
However, not all citizens are automatically included. There are certain conditions that must be met for a person to be eligible for Social Security collection, and not all workers meet those criteria, even if they have lived or worked in the country for years.
Therefore, it is important to know now which groups of people will not be able to receive this benefit and what requirements must be met in order to avoid being excluded at retirement. Age alone does not guarantee access to the monthly check.
Who does not receive Social Security
One of the groups most affected by this situation is people who never accumulated the 40 work credits required by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to qualify for retirement. These credits are generated from legally reported income and are not granted based on length of residence, but rather on regulated economic activity.
Those who worked in the country without regular immigration status, without valid documentation, or without having formally contributed to Social Security are also not eligible for Social Security benefits. Even if they generated income, if they did not officially contribute to the system through tax withholdings, they do not have the necessary credits.
Another group that may be excluded is US citizens who worked most of their lives outside the country and therefore did not accumulate sufficient credits within the US system. In all these cases, it is not possible to access retirement payments, even if the minimum age established by the SSA is met.
Finally, it is important to note that this limitation does not apply to programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which does allow access to financial assistance without a work history, although only under very strict criteria of low income and legal residence.
Minimum requirements to get Social Security
In order to collect Social Security retirement benefits, you must meet a series of basic requirements established by the SSA. It is not enough to have reached a certain age: your work history is what determines whether you are eligible to receive benefits.
The minimum requirements are as follows:
- Have accumulated at least 40 work credits in total
- Have worked legally in jobs subject to Social Security contributions
- Be at least 62 years old at the time of applying for retirement
- Have a legal and verified immigration status
- Have used a valid Social Security number during your working period
Meeting all of these criteria is essential to access monthly retirement payments. Otherwise, the application will be rejected, even if you are a U.S. citizen or long-term resident. The SSA recommends reviewing your credit history through your online account and consulting in advance if you have any questions about eligibility. In a system where benefits are not automatic, preparation is essential to ensure access to the income that many people expect at the end of their working lives.
