Can lawful permanent residents (green card holders) receive Social Security retirement benefits?

1. Who law lets collect Social Security: green card holders are included

The Social Security Administration states that “lawfully present noncitizens” who meet all eligibility requirements can qualify for Social Security benefits — meaning permanent residents who have the required work history are not categorically excluded from retirement benefits ^[3]. Multiple consumer and finance outlets repeat that principle: green card holders who pay into Social Security and earn the necessary credits may collect retirement benefits just like citizens ^{[1] [2]}.

2. The practical eligibility test: 40 credits (about 10 years) is the usual threshold

The consistent technical point across guidance is that retirement benefits generally require 40 qualifying work credits, which most people earn in roughly 10 years of covered employment; this is the same standard cited for green card holders ^{[1] [2]}. The credit-earning amounts and the annual income threshold per credit are updated periodically (examples and 2025 numbers are discussed in consumer guides) and determine whether an immigrant’s years of work count toward benefits ^[2].

3. Not the same program as SSI — rules differ and immigration timing can matter

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has more restrictive eligibility for noncitizens than Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI, the core “Social Security” retirement program). SSI eligibility for noncitizens often requires specific immigration status or 40 work credits and other conditions; guidance documents explain those distinctions for noncitizens ^{[5] [6]}. Legal analyses note that while retirement and disability benefits generally follow the work-credit rule, SSI has separate statutory limits for many noncitizens ^{[5] [6]}.

4. Residency, travel, and overseas payments can affect continuing payments

Getting a benefit check and keeping it can depend on where the beneficiary lives. The SSA publishes guidance and tools about receiving payments outside the United States and about how living abroad might affect payment continuation; green card holders who move or travel extensively should consult the SSA’s “Payments Abroad” resources to see whether payments will continue ^[4]. Anecdotal reports emphasize that extended absences or changes in residency can interrupt payments, although those specific stories are not authoritative SSA rulings ^{[7] [4]}.

5. Administrative details: SSNs, documentation, and covered employment

Immigrants typically obtain a Social Security number during the immigration process, and the SSA issues instructions for noncitizens to get or replace SSN cards; having an SSN and working in covered employment is a precondition for credits to accumulate ^[8]. Advice sites and legal practitioners stress that the work must be “covered” by Social Security (that is, employer/earnings subject to Social Security tax) for credits to count toward retirement eligibility ^{[1] [9]}.

6. Areas where reporting varies or is thin — what to watch for

Available sources do not mention every nuance: specific rules about benefits when a green card holder abandons residence, the interaction of totalization agreements with benefit amounts for people with foreign earnings, or how recent legislative changes (beyond summaries in secondary outlets) might alter eligibility are not fully detailed in the provided items and therefore are not asserted here (not found in current reporting). Some consumer sites and news pieces repeat similar conclusions but differ on practical advice (for example about how long absences affect payments), so readers should treat anecdotal tales cautiously and consult SSA tools or an SSA representative for case-specific answers ^{[7] [4]}.

7. Bottom line and recommended next steps

If you are a green card holder who has worked in the U.S. under Social Security-covered employment and accumulated roughly 40 credits, you can generally apply for and receive Social Security retirement benefits ^{[1] [2] [3]}. For personal cases — verifying covered work history, confirming current rules about receiving payments while abroad, and understanding SSI versus retirement benefit differences — use SSA official pages like the “Payments Abroad” tool and SSA FAQs or contact the SSA directly ^{[4] [3]}.