Why You Need Social Security Credits & 5 Job Ideas to Build Your Credits

For whatever reason, you do not yet qualify to receive Social Security benefits, but you are old enough to begin thinking about your retirement. What can you do about that?

The most common reason people can’t qualify for Social Security is because they haven’t paid enough into the system to qualify.

Maybe you stayed home to raise children. That’s a big job for sure, but an unpaid one.

Now that the children are grown, you might want to get back into the workplace to earn Social Security benefits.

Or perhaps you worked for a public entity that had its own retirement program and did not pay into the federal system. You could retire from that job with 25 years experience, and if you’re in your early 50s, still have enough time to work to qualify for Social Security benefits.

What kind of job can you get after age 50 that will build up your credits? The simple answer is any job where the employer pays Social Security taxes — and we have  suggestions.

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How Social Security Credits Are Accrued

Social Security benefits are earned through your work history. To be eligible for benefits, you must work full time for 10 years, earning a maximum of four Social Security credits a year. (You could also work part-time over a number of years and earn enough credits.)

In 2026, a worker gets one credit for each $1,890 earned, so earning $7,560 in one year gets you the four credits for the year.

Social Security taxes are taken out of your salary to fund the Social Security program. You must have at least 40 credits to qualify for Social Security benefits.

The good news is that any credits you earned over the years are still in your account even if you didn’t work for a number of years — they don’t need to be consecutive years. You can add to your account by acquiring a job that takes Social Security taxes out of your salary. Go to ssa.gov to find out how many credits you already have in the system. You’ll need to set up an account first.

You can also claim Social Security through your spouse or ex-spouse (unless you’ve remarried) if you don’t have enough credits on your own.

Almost Any Job Can Build Social Security Credits

Jobs where the employer takes money out of your salary to pay into the Social Security system will build your credits.

Keep in mind, though, there are jobs — such as state, county or municipal positions, and some teaching jobs — that have opted out of the Social Security program. That means jobs as public school substitute teachers or part-time work at your local city hall will not likely earn you any credits.

However, most every other job that takes taxes out of your paycheck is paying into Social Security.

So, the key to earning Social Security benefits is to get a job. If you are talking to an employer, you can ask them if Social Security taxes are taken out of your paycheck.

As long as you are making $7,560 in 2026, you are going to earn your four credits for Social Security this year. The more you earn, the more money you will get back in Social Security benefits when you are ready to access them.

What if I Have Been Self-Employed?

Self-employed people (freelancers, gig workers, contractors, etc.) earn Social Security credits at the same rate as others, up to the four credits per year. So you earn one Social Security credit for every $1,890 of self-employment earnings reported on your tax return in 2026, up to a maximum of four credits per year.

When you indicate your earnings on your tax return from self-employment, your earnings are taken into account and you earn Social Security credits. Your taxes to pay for your Social Security benefits are taken out of your taxes at the time you file your tax return.

Jobs That Will Hire Employees at Age 50+

Many people today begin new careers at age 50 and older. The days of passing over older workers are long gone, in part because of remote opportunities and perceptions of increased reliability for older workers.

Because the salary to qualify for Social Security credits is so low ($1,890 per quarter), most part-time jobs that take out Social Security taxes will qualify you for Social Security credits.

How many credits you need — the full 40 or something less — will determine if you need to work full-time or part-time in the limited time you have to accrue credits.

Here are some possibilities from our list of part-time jobs for retirees that will work for anyone. It’s imperative, though, that you work for a company that is taking out Society Security taxes or you are paying them yourself if you are self-employed.

• Retail employee. Many large chain stores, like Target, Lowe’s and Walmart, need part-time employees for stocking shelves and greeting customers. Whether you work as a seasonal employee or get a year-round gig, you can earn money and Social Security credits.
• Tutor. Use your skills to teach others in academic subjects or English as a second language. Many tutoring jobs are online.
• Shuttle bus driver. Many hotels, senior citizen communities, churches and community centers offer shuttles, and they all need drivers. If you enjoy being around people and have a solid driving record, this is a good way to earn hourly pay — plus tips — while working a regular schedule.
• Patient advocate. The job of a patient advocate is to assist someone who is struggling to cope with the healthcare system. A patient advocate deals with paperwork and appointments, and communicates with health care providers to get information on diagnosis, treatment and follow up procedures. These positions can be full- or part-time. Check with insurance companies or hospitals for opportunities.
• Call center rep. There are plenty of companies that hire remote employees — it’s mostly a matter of finding one that’s a good fit for your interests and skill set. Jobs like customer service reps can be great entry-level jobs. When searching work-from-home job boards, you can filter for whether you want a full- or part-time position.

Kent McDill is a veteran journalist who has specialized in personal finance topics since 2013. He is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder. Senior managing editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this post for 2026.