When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn “credits” toward Social Security benefits. The number of credits you need to get retirement benefits depends on when you were born. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work). If you stop working before you have enough qualifying credits, the credits remain on your SS record. So, if you return to work, you could add more credits. But unless you have the required number, the government won’t pay any benefits.