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Your Social security benefits Questions: Social Security Credits Q: According to Social Security, I haven't obtained enough credits to be eligible for benefits. How do these credits work, and how is it possible for me to not have enough when I have worked for years and paid taxes the whole time? A: Credits that go towards qualifying you for benefits from Social Security are earned by working and paying your Social Security taxes. The number of credits you receive is based on both income and the number of years worked. With each year that passes, the amount of money you need to make in order to earn social security credits rises; in 2008, it is one credit for $1,050 of earnings. You can receive a maximum of four credits annually (which is why credits are also called 'quarters'), and any credits you earn will remain on your record even during periods in which you're not working.