Social Security benefits are an important income source for most seniors, but they’re not a guaranteed income source. You don’t get these benefits just because you hit retirement age. You have to earn them.
You gain access to Social Security benefits by paying Social Security tax. When you earn and pay taxes on a certain amount of income, you earn work credits. After you have earned 40 work credits, you become eligible for Social Security retirement checks.
So, how much do you need to earn in 2026 to get a work credit and stay on track to earn your benefits? Here’s what you need to know.
In 2026, you need to earn $1,890 in wages subject to Social Security tax to qualify for a work credit. This is up $80 from 2025. In 2025, you only had to earn $1,810 to earn a credit that counted toward the 40 that you need to become eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.
You’re allowed to earn a maximum of four credits total per year. In 2025, you could earn the maximum credit by being paid $7,240. In 2026, you can earn the maximum four credits only if you’re paid at least $7,560.
A difference of $320 may not seem like much. But if you’re working a low-paying job or working part time and are on the border of being able to earn all your work credits, that extra $320 could be the difference between qualifying for Social Security and being ineligible for benefits on your own work record, especially if you’re consistently earning only a small amount over the course of your working life.
You can check your earnings record on your mySocialSecurity account online to see how much income you have paid into Social Security each year of your career and to confirm whether you’re on track to earn enough to get Social Security payments as a senior.
Be aware that the amount of wages needed for a work credit will also change over time due to inflation. The required amount of earnings increases each year, so if your income is close to the current year’s minimum, you’ll need to make sure you understand annual changes and keep up-to-date on whether you’re on the path to qualify for benefits. This can be an important part of your retirement planning process.
