Is it true that some people who collect Social Security benefits never paid into the program?

Social Security is an earned benefit. To collect a monthly retirement benefit, a worker must pay into the system, via Social Security taxes levied on work earnings, for at least 10 years (which do not need to be consecutive). Strict rules ensure that only workers who have met this requirement are able to collect retirement benefits.

Some workers may qualify for a disability benefit with less work time, depending on their age. But paying at least some Social Security taxes is a prerequisite.

The sole people who can legally collect benefits without paying into Social Security are family members of workers who have paid Social Security taxes. Nonworking spouses, ex-spouses, offspring or parents may be eligible for spousal, survivor or children's benefits based on a qualifying worker’s earnings record. 

Keep in mind

Noncitizens who live and work in the U.S. legally pay into Social Security and qualify for benefits under the same terms as citizens.

Undocumented workers may contribute to Social Security via payroll taxes, but they are barred from accessing benefits. In 2022, undocumented immigrants paid $25.7 billion into Social Security that they cannot claim, according to a July 2024 report from the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.