Attorneys for social security disability, reviewing the basics
These credits are also called quarters, as you can earn a maximum of four of them a year; any social security "quarters" that you earn during your working career will remain on your record even during times of unemployment. A certain number of credits or quarters are required in order to qualify you to receive social security benefits. This number is based on age, and is generally calculated by number of years worked. Most people looking to qualify for retirement social security benefits (that is, over the age of 62) will need 40 credits, or 10 years of work, to be eligible for benefits. It does occur, however, that a person of retirement age who has worked for what seems to be the correct number of years does not have enough credits to qualify him or her for social security benefits.