How many years do you have to work to Qualify for SS benefits?

Answer 1

Zero if you are married to a worker you can collect on their record. On the other hand you can work many years and collect nothing if you also have a pension from uncovered employment.
My mom worked a few years then went to work for the post office 20 years and got a small pension. She got no SS because of double dipping laws but after my dad died they gave her a little SS to make her pension and SS total what she would have had as a non working widow.
SSA.GOV as all the information you might need to determine what you might get. There is no minimum monthly Social Security benefit, although for administrative reasons, we will not pay a benefit of less than $1.00. However, to receive any amount of Social Security benefits, you must have the minimum amount of work credits. Everyone born in 1929 or later needs 40 credits to be eligible for retirement benefits. Therefore since you can earn four credits per year, you will need at least 10 years of work to become eligible for retirement benefits.

Answer 2

I have to work until I'm 65 and will get more if I work until I'm 70. And what you put in over those working years supposedly determines what you can get paid when it's time to retire.