Quick Answer
No — ITIN holders generally cannot collect Social Security benefits. They pay Social Security and Medicare taxes from every paycheck, but work reported under an ITIN earns no credits and never becomes a benefit. Retirement requires 40 credits earned under a valid SSN — money paid under an ITIN funds the system but returns nothing.
Do ITIN Holders Get Social Security Benefits?
No. ITIN holders pay Social Security taxes from every paycheck but generally cannot collect benefits, because work reported under an ITIN earns no credits. In 2022, about 3.8 million ITIN tax returns paid roughly $6.5 billion in Social Security and Medicare taxes — money that funds the system but returns nothing to the worker.
This is the central frustration for millions of immigrant workers: they pay into a system they cannot draw from. The rest of this page explains exactly what is withheld, why the contributions earn no credits, the one exception that can change the math, and how to build retirement income outside Social Security. For the bigger picture on how ITIN holders interact with the tax system, see our guide on how to file taxes with an ITIN.
Do ITIN Holders Pay Social Security and Medicare Taxes?
Yes. When an ITIN holder works on payroll, the employer withholds the 6.2% Social Security tax and 1.45% Medicare tax from every paycheck, exactly as for any other worker. The amounts are real and large: undocumented workers paid roughly $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes in a single year, propping up the trust fund.
These taxes are not optional and are not refunded at tax time — they are separate from federal income tax. The contributions are a major, often-overlooked fiscal fact, documented in the American Immigration Council's ITIN fact sheet. For more on the broader tax contributions of this group, see do undocumented immigrants pay taxes.
Why Can't ITIN Holders Collect the Social Security They Pay Into?
Because Social Security retirement benefits require 40 work credits — about 10 years of covered work — and those credits can only be earned under a valid Social Security number. An ITIN is a tax-processing number, not a work authorization, so wages reported under it build zero credits no matter how many years of taxes are paid.
The Social Security Administration ties every benefit to a person's earnings record under their SSN. Without that record, there is no benefit to calculate. The agency explains how numbers and benefits work for noncitizens in its publication Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens. The difference between the two numbers is covered in our ITIN vs. SSN guide.
Do ITIN Contributions Count Toward Any Future Benefit?
No. Social Security taxes withheld under an ITIN earn zero work credits and do not accumulate in a personal account. The money flows into the Social Security trust fund, which pays current retirees and beneficiaries. The contributions are not refundable and, on their own, never convert into a future retirement, disability, or survivor benefit.
This surprises many workers who assume the taxes are being banked in their name. They are not — Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system, not a savings plan. The only path by which past ITIN earnings can ever count is the exception covered in the next section.
What Happens if an ITIN Holder Later Gets an SSN?
Earnings reported under the old ITIN may be credited toward future benefits if the person becomes work-authorized, receives a Social Security number, and Social Security can match the historical wage records to them. The credits are not automatic, and the worker still needs 40 total credits to qualify for retirement benefits.
Matching depends on the wage records lining up with the new SSN, so keeping pay stubs, W-2s, and tax returns matters. If you adjust status, ask the Social Security Administration to review your earnings record. The agency's guidance on this is in its noncitizen publication linked above; bring documentation of every year you worked.
Can ITIN Holders Get Medicare or Disability Benefits?
No. Both Medicare and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) require qualifying work credits earned under a valid Social Security number — ITIN status alone confers neither. ITIN holders pay the 1.45% Medicare tax and contribute to disability funding, but those payments do not make them eligible for coverage or disability checks.
The rules mirror retirement: no SSN-based credits means no eligibility, regardless of how much was withheld. Some lawful-status immigrants can buy into Medicare after meeting residency rules, but that is a separate path tied to immigration status, not to having paid ITIN taxes.
How Should ITIN Holders Plan for Retirement Without Social Security?
By building private retirement accounts, since the 40-credit gap means Social Security likely will not pay out. ITIN holders can open and contribute to a 401(k) through an employer or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) on their own, giving them tax-advantaged savings that belong to them — unlike Social Security taxes, which return nothing.
A 401(k) or IRA is the practical replacement for the retirement income Social Security will not provide. Contribution limits and account rules change each year, so check current figures and step-by-step options in our guide on the ITIN 401(k) and IRA. Starting early matters most, because compounding does the heavy lifting over decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ITIN holders ever receive Social Security checks?
Generally no. Social Security retirement benefits require 40 work credits earned under a valid Social Security number. Work reported under an ITIN earns zero credits, so ITIN holders do not receive monthly retirement checks even though Social Security taxes were withheld from their pay.
I've paid Social Security taxes for years under my ITIN — can I get that money back?
No. Social Security taxes are not refundable and are not a personal savings account. The money goes into the Social Security trust fund that pays current beneficiaries. ITIN holders cannot reclaim the contributions, and the payments do not convert into a future benefit on their own.
Will my ITIN earnings count if I get a green card and SSN later?
They may. If you become work-authorized and receive a Social Security number, earnings reported under your ITIN can sometimes be credited toward future benefits if Social Security can match the wage records to you. You still need 40 work credits total to qualify for retirement.
Do ITIN holders pay into Medicare?
Yes. The 1.45% Medicare tax is withheld from ITIN holders' paychecks alongside the 6.2% Social Security tax. But ITIN status alone does not qualify anyone for Medicare coverage, which generally requires qualifying work credits earned under a valid SSN.
How many work credits do I need for Social Security retirement?
You need 40 work credits, which is about 10 years of covered work, all earned under a valid Social Security number. Credits cannot be earned under an ITIN. Without 40 credits you do not qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, regardless of how much tax you paid.
Where does the Social Security tax withheld from ITIN workers go?
It goes into the Social Security trust fund and helps pay current retirees and beneficiaries. Undocumented workers paid roughly $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes in a single year. The money funds the system but earns the ITIN worker no personal benefit or credits.