Social Securityis a very popular program in the country, one of the many administered by theSocial Security Administration (SSA).And, while it may seem like everyone is entitled to benefits, the truth is that the conditions to access them can sometimes be very strict and need to be followed to the letter.

As with everything that comes from a public administration, the bureaucracy alone can make the most patient people frustrated, so it is important to be informed in advance about all the conditions that need to be followed in order to receive payments. Although the conditions can be strict, they are not hard to follow with a little time, patience and foresight.

Conditions to access Social Security benefits

The first condition is well known for may in the abstract, but details can be a bit fuzzy. To get benefits one must have worked for a minimum of ten years of taxable income. What does this translate to in practical terms?Social Securityawards four credits a year, and one must have forty credits in order to qualify for benefits, making ten years the minimum one has to work.

As many are aware, not all income is taxes forSocial Security, and just as there is a maximum, there is a minimum. Both of these numbers are increased every year in accordance with theCost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and according to theSSAYou earn credits when you work and paySocial Security taxes. The number of credits does not affect the amount of benefits you receive. We use the number of credits you ve earned to determine your eligibility for retirement or disability benefits,Medicare,and your family s eligibility forsurvivors benefits.We cannot pay benefits to you if you don t have enough credits.

Having said that, credits do have a value, which is the minimum taxable income. In 2024, you earn1 Social Security and Medicarecredit for every $1,730 in covered earnings each year. You must earn $6,920 to get the maximum 4 credits for the year. To earn one credit in 2025, you must have wages and self-employment income of $1,810, and you must earn $7,240 to get four full credits.

Once you have met the basic condition to receive benefits, the rest are easier to manage. The most important thing a beneficiary must do to maintain their benefits is to report all changes to their life to theSSA.They must report:

• Housing changes: moving to a new home, changing mailing address, and leaving the country for more than 30 days.
• Changes in employment and income: starting a new job, losing a job, and increasing or decreasing monthly income.
• Changes in family composition: marriage or divorce of the beneficiary, or if the beneficiary becomes a biological, adoptive, or stepparent parent.
• Updates to the personal record: change of the beneficiary s legal name, change of citizenship or immigration status, conviction for a criminal offense, and release from prison.

While it might seem excessive and a bit of a chore, this is meant to avoid fraud, as there have been instances of checks being stolen or mismanaged. This is whySSAofficials frequently check the identity of each member to ensure that no one is stealing money from the state and so having the information be fully up to date is key to avoid issues.

The change most people are unaware of needing to report is usually the changes in employment as many are under the misconception that, if you have a job, you are not eligible for benefits. This is untrue, and the rules surrounding getting a job while receiving benefits are complicated, but you can find all the information in theSSA swebsite to avoid making any mistakes in reporting.

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