Utilise for Retirement Benefits

Starting your Social Security retirement benefits is a major step on your retirement journey. This page volition guide yous through the process of applying for retirement benefits when you're ready to take that step. Our online awarding is a convenient manner to utilize on your own schedule, without an appointment. You can also apply by phone or past engagement at a Social Security office.

Leap to a topic on this page:

Before Yous Apply / How To Apply / Once You've Practical



Before You lot Apply

Before you employ, take time to review the nuts, understand the process, and gather the documents you'll need to complete an application.

Review Retirement Benefits Basics

Yous can start your retirement benefits as early on as age 62 or as late equally historic period lxx. If you're preparing to apply for retirement benefits, knowing when you're eligible to utilize and how the system works are the outset steps in choosing what age is right for y'all. Before y'all submit an application, become to our Larn Well-nigh Retirement Benefits page to understand:

  • How you qualify for Social Security benefits.
  • How your earnings and age tin impact your benefits.
  • What you lot should consider in deciding when to start receiving benefits.
  • Retirement benefits for spouses and family members.

Sympathise The Application Process

The retirement benefits application process follows these general steps, whether you apply online, by phone, or in person:

  • Gather the information and documents you need to apply.
  • Complete and submit your awarding.
  • We review your awarding and contact you if nosotros need more than information.
  • We postal service yous a decision letter.
  • You start receiving your retirement benefits.
How Early on Can I Apply?

Yous must be at least age 62 for the unabridged month to exist eligible to receive benefits. If you lot were born on the first or second day of the month, you lot run into this requirement in the month of your 62nd birthday. If yous were built-in on any other twenty-four hours of the month, you do non meet this requirement until the following month.

You can utilise up to four months before you desire your retirement benefits to start. For case, if you plough 62 on December 2, you can beginning your benefits as early on equally December. If you want your benefits to first in December, you can apply in August. If you turn 62 whatsoever twenty-four hours afterwards December two, you are non age 62 for the unabridged month of December. You lot tin offset your benefits as early equally January when you are 62 for the entire month. If you want your benefits to start in Jan, you tin apply in September.

Social Security benefits are paid in the calendar month post-obit the month they are due. If you are due benefits for the month of December, you will receive your commencement check in Jan for December.

Set To Kickoff Medicare?

If y'all'll plow 65 within three months, you can use our online application to apply for Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits at the same fourth dimension, or you tin use it to apply for just Medicare. To learn more about your Medicare options, review our section on Medicare Benefits.

Applying Equally A Spouse Or Family Member

You may be able to receive retirement benefits on your spouse or former spouse's record. Likewise, your spouse or family unit member may be able to receive benefits on your record if they qualify. Larn more than virtually Benefits For Your Family.

Retirement Benefits For Survivors

If you lot are the spouse, divorced spouse, family fellow member, or parent of a worker who has died and you are planning to apply for retirement benefits, review our Survivors Benefits page to run across how Social Security survivor benefits relate to your situation.

Gather Information You Need to Apply

Earlier applying, be ready to provide your Social Security number and information nearly:

  • Dates of current and previous marriages, and where you lot were married.
  • U.S. armed forces service dates and branches.
  • Employer names and dates for the past two years.
  • Self-employment income and type of business organisation.
  • Banking concern information to set up your directly deposit.
  • Information on family members who may exist eligible to receive benefits on your record.

We volition enquire for certain documents we need to review and procedure your application. These documents may include:

  • Your original nativity certificate or other proof of your age. This must be the original certificate or a certified re-create from the issuing agency.
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship if yous were non born in the U.S. and have non submitted proof for an before Medicare or Social Security claim. We must see the original document(s) or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept expired, notarized, or photocopied documents.
  • A copy of your W-ii taxation form(s) and/or self-employment taxation return from last year. A photocopy is acceptable.
  • A copy of your U.S. military machine service papers if you served earlier 1968. A photocopy is acceptable.

As you prepare to apply for benefits, first gather the documents listed on our Checklist for Online Medicare, Retirement & Spouses Application. Instructions on how to submit your documents will appear at the end of the online application.

If applying by phone, gather the data in a higher place. We will walk you through the process on the phone.

If applying in person, ask your local Social Security office what you need to bring when you phone call to schedule your appointment. They can help yous if you don't have all your documents right now.



How To Employ

Applying online is the easiest way to consummate your application at a time that works for yous, without a trip to the Social Security part. You can also utilise by phone or at a Social Security function. This section will tell yous about the different options.

Employ Online

Follow these steps to apply online:

  • To start your application, go to our Apply for Benefits page, read and agree to the Terms of Service. Click "Next."
  • On that folio, review the "Getting Ready" department to brand sure you take the data you need to utilize.
  • Select "Start A New Application."
  • We will ask a few questions about who is filling out the awarding.
  • You will then sign into your my Social Security business relationship or you will be prompted to create one.
  • Complete the application.

Sentry our video, "Welcome To Our Online Retirement/Medicare Awarding," for an overview of the procedure.

Tips For Using The Online Application

We've worked hard to make applying online as simple as possible while also keeping your information safe.

For security reasons, the online application gives you a warning if you lot leave it open and don't practice anything for 25 minutes. Yous can choose to extend your fourth dimension on the page if you lot go this alarm. However, subsequently the third alert, you must move to another folio or your information will not be saved.

Here are more tips for using the online application:

  • If you get stuck on a question, y'all tin skip to the next question and come up back later.
  • Y'all tin can relieve your application to finish another time if needed. Side by side fourth dimension y'all sign in, become to "Return to a Saved Application."
  • You are not allowed to utilize periods, commas, or other special characters for some answers, including addresses. If you get a message about this, become back and enter the information without periods or other characters.

Start your awarding at present.

Signing The Online Application

You'll have a chance to review your answers and make changes, if needed. In one case you've filled everything out, nosotros'll inquire you to ostend that your answers are truthful to the best of your cognition. Yous can be held liable for intentionally providing fake or misleading information.

The terminal step is to "sign" the online application by clicking "Submit Now." You tin can check the status of your submitted application using a confirmation number we provide.

Helping Someone Else Apply Online

Yous may assist someone else fill out their application, but y'all are non allowed to sign it for them. Only the person applying for benefits can legally sign the application. If they are non able to sign online, we will postal service them a copy to sign. Read more about Helping Someone Use Online.

Apply With Your Local Office

Y'all tin do most of your business with Social Security online. If you cannot utilise these online services, your local Social Security office tin can assistance you utilize. Although our offices are closed to the public, employees from those offices are profitable people by telephone. You can find the phone number for your local role by using our Field Office Locator and looking nether Social Security Office Information. The toll-free "Office" number is your local office.

Apply By Phone

Call ane-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.g. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to apply past phone.

If You lot Do Not Live In The U.S. Or One Of Its Territories

Contact the Federal Benefits Unit for your country of residence if you live outside the U.S. or a U.South. territory and wish to utilise for retirement benefits.



Once You've Applied

One time we receive your awarding, nosotros'll review it and contact you if nosotros have whatsoever questions. Nosotros might request additional documents from you before we can process your application.

Look For Our Response

Y'all'll receive a letter of the alphabet in the mail with our decision. If you included data about other family members when you applied, nosotros'll let yous know if they may be able to receive benefits from your application.

Bank check The Status

You can check the status of your awarding online using your personal my Social Security account. If you are unable to cheque your condition online, you can call us ane-800-772-1213 (TTY ane-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.thousand. to seven:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Appeal A Conclusion

You lot have a right to entreatment any decision we brand about whether you're entitled to benefits. You must request an appeal in writing within 60 days of receiving our decision. There are four levels of appeal:

  • Afterthought past Social Security staff.
  • A hearing before an administrative police judge.
  • A review by Social Security's Appeals Council.
  • A review by the federal courts.

To larn more, visit Appeal A Determination.

Withdraw Your Awarding

Sometimes, life changes occur after you submit your awarding. You lot have up to 12 months to withdraw your application, if yous change your mind. You will exist required to repay whatever benefits yous've already received. Learn more than about Withdrawing Your Social Security Retirement Application.