Many believe that after working their whole life, everything is done when it comes to retirement and that the Social Security check shows up instantly in your bank account. But no. There are requirements that must be met, and if you’re missing even one, even by mistake, you could miss your payment in May. It’s that simple.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has reminded people in recent days: not everyone enters the system automatically, which is why it’s very important for those who are going to receive their first check this May to pay close attention to these updates. So, if you’re waiting for your May check, this concerns you, and as always, we’ll explain it.
The three requirements you cannot skip
To begin receiving your pension you need to have three things in order. It doesn’t matter if you have decades of contributions or if you’re well past retirement age: if one thing is missing, the money doesn’t come.
- Have accumulated at least 40 work credits: This equals about 10 years of work in jobs covered by Social Security. Each work year earns you credits, and without reaching those 40, you won’t be able to receive your pension.
- Meet the minimum age: You can apply for your pension starting at age 62, but beware: you’ll receive less each month. To receive 100% of the benefit, the age depends on when you were born:
- If you were born between 1943 and 1954: you qualify at 66.
- If you were born between 1955 and 1960: it gradually rises to 67.
- If you were born in 1960 or after: 100% comes at 67.
- Here’s a tip too: if you can afford it and feel like it, delaying your retirement age to 70 will make SSA pay you a little more each month as a “thank you” for continuing to work, so do the math!
- Have submitted the application: This detail, despite being one of the most important, slips past many people. Even if you have the credits and the age, if you don’t formally request the pension, no payment is assigned to you, obviously.
What if you’re already collecting?
If you’re already in the system, don’t worry: everything stays the same. The check arrives as always, according to your birth date. But if there was any delay or something seems off, it’s worth checking your status on the official Social Security website.
What happens if I’m missing something?
If you haven’t yet reached the 40 credits or you’re still under the minimum age, there’s nothing to do but:
- Keep working to add what you’re missing.
- Wait until you reach the age.
- Start preparing the paperwork now so you don’t waste time when the moment comes.
All we can do is wish you luck and encouragement.
How do I know how many credits I have?
Go to ssa.gov, create your account, and check your work history. There you’ll see how many credits you have, your estimated retirement age, and how much you’d receive. Everything is clear, everything is online.
If you’re retiring in May, do this now
Don’t leave the paperwork for the last day. If you want to start collecting in May, make sure everything is in order and submit the application as soon as possible. Keep in mind that the process can take several weeks, so the sooner you do it, the better.