If you’re not eligible to draw Social Security as a spouse or an ex spouse, then you do need to qualify on your own work record. Which means you had to have paid into Social Security for at least 10 years. You can get 4/4 each year for a total of 40/4 the years do not have to be consecutive. Social Security is paid to play so the more you pay in the more you will get out set up a free account at ssa.gov to seeyour estimate at retirement. | The Medicare Family