Of course. You must earn at least 40 Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security benefits. You earn Social Security credits when you work and pay Social Security taxes.
I see. How exactly are credits earned?
Do you work and pay Social Security taxes?
Yes, of course.
In that case you earn up to a maximum of four credits per year.
What requirements do I need to fulfill to be eligible for disability benefits?
To be eligible, you must meet a recent work test and a duration work test.
What about blindness? How am I supposed to do the recent work test?
In that case there is not a recent work test requirement.
Alright, good to know. And how many credits do I need for retirement?
Were you born after 1928?