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Special Minimum Benefit for Low Earners Starts at $53.50

1/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Social Security Administration (SSA) says the Special Minimum Benefit for low-earnings retirees starts at $53.50 per month for 11 years of coverage as of January 2026.
Eligibility has declined as wages have outpaced inflation, making traditional Social Security benefits more accessible.
Existing beneficiaries will continue to receive their payments, which declined from around 200,000 in the early 1990s to under 30,000 by December 2020.

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Story summary

The Social Security Administration (SSA) says the Special Minimum Benefit for low-earnings retirees starts at $53.50 per month for 11 years of coverage as of January 2026.
Eligibility has declined as wages have outpaced inflation, making traditional Social Security benefits more accessible.
Existing beneficiaries will continue to receive their payments, which declined from around 200,000 in the early 1990s to under 30,000 by December 2020.