The Social Security Administration provides several different types of benefits, including retirement benefits, disability benefits, and benefits for dependents and survivors of eligible workers. While the requirements vary depending on the type of benefits, a worker must have earned a sufficient number of Social Security work credits to be eligible. This generally means that they worked in covered employment for at least 10 years before claiming retirement benefits or disability benefits (or dying, in the case of survivor benefits). Social Security retirement benefits are limited to people who are at least 62 years old.