Everything You Need to Know About Social Security Benefits in 2025

By Kailey Hagen – Updated Nov 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM | Fact-checked by Parker Hicks

Key Points

Earn 40 credits to qualify for Social Security; each $1,890 in 2026 counts as one credit.
Claiming Social Security before full retirement age reduces benefit amounts.
Survivor benefits are available to families of deceased workers who qualified for Social Security.

Social Security forms an important part of most people's retirement plans, but the program itself does much more than just that. In a nutshell, Social Security is designed to support disabled and retired workers and their families by providing a guaranteed source of lifetime income for those who meet certain criteria.

Let's explore how the program works, the different types of Social Security benefits available, and what you can expect when you're ready to claim benefits.

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An infographic explaining the retirement, disability, and survivors benefits that come from Social Security. — Image source: The Motley Fool

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Be Aware

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Did you know?

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About the Author

Kailey Hagen, CFP, is a contributing Motley Fool retirement analyst covering Social Security, Medicare, and retirement planning. Before The Motley Fool, Kailey was a research analyst for Reviews.com focusing on credit and banking products. She is a Certified Financial Planner® and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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