Apply for Retirement Benefits

Starting your Social Security retirement benefits is a major step on your retirement journeying. This folio will guide you through the procedure of applying for retirement benefits when you're prepare to take that step. Our online application is a convenient way to use on your own schedule, without an appointment. Yous can as well use by phone or by appointment at a Social Security function.

Jump to a topic on this page:

Earlier You Apply / How To Use / Once Y'all've Applied



Earlier You Apply

Earlier yous utilize, have time to review the basics, understand the process, and gather the documents you'll need to complete an application.

Review Retirement Benefits Basics

Y'all can get-go your retirement benefits as early on as age 62 or every bit late as age 70. If you're preparing to apply for retirement benefits, knowing when y'all're eligible to apply and how the system works are the first steps in choosing what age is right for you. Before yous submit an application, go to our Learn Nearly Retirement Benefits folio to understand:

  • How you authorize for Social Security benefits.
  • How your earnings and age tin can affect your benefits.
  • What you should consider in deciding when to showtime receiving benefits.
  • Retirement benefits for spouses and family members.

Understand The Application Procedure

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

  • Gather the data and documents you need to apply.
  • Complete and submit your application.
  • We review your awarding and contact you if we need more information.
  • We mail y'all a decision letter.
  • You start receiving your retirement benefits.
How Early Tin can I Apply?

You must be at least historic period 62 for the unabridged calendar month to exist eligible to receive benefits. If you were born on the starting time or second day of the month, you meet this requirement in the month of your 62nd birthday. If you lot were born on any other day of the month, you do not meet this requirement until the following month.

You can use up to four months before y'all want your retirement benefits to start. For case, if you turn 62 on December 2, yous tin offset your benefits as early every bit December. If y'all want your benefits to start in December, you lot tin employ in August. If you turn 62 any day subsequently Dec two, you are not age 62 for the unabridged calendar month of December. You can get-go your benefits as early on equally January when you are 62 for the entire month. If you desire your benefits to start in Jan, you lot can utilize in September.

Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month they are due. If you are due benefits for the calendar month of Dec, you will receive your first cheque in January for Dec.

Ready To Get-go Medicare?

If you'll plough 65 inside 3 months, yous can use our online application to utilise for Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time, or you lot can use it to utilise for simply Medicare. To learn more about your Medicare options, review our section on Medicare Benefits.

Applying Every bit A Spouse Or Family Fellow 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 about Benefits For Your Family unit.

Retirement Benefits For Survivors

If you are the spouse, divorced spouse, family member, or parent of a worker who has died and y'all are planning to employ for retirement benefits, review our Survivors Benefits page to encounter how Social Security survivor benefits chronicle to your situation.

Gather Information You lot Need to Utilize

Before applying, be ready to provide your Social Security number and information well-nigh:

  • Dates of current and previous marriages, and where you were married.
  • U.South. military machine service dates and branches.
  • Employer names and dates for the past ii years.
  • Self-employment income and type of business.
  • Banking company data to set up your directly deposit.
  • Information on family unit members who may be eligible to receive benefits on your record.

We will inquire for certain documents nosotros need to review and procedure your awarding. These documents may include:

  • Your original birth certificate or other proof of your age. This must be the original document or a certified copy from the issuing agency.
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship if you were not born in the U.S. and have non submitted proof for an earlier Medicare or Social Security claim. We must encounter the original certificate(due south) or copies certified past the agency that issued them. Nosotros cannot accept expired, notarized, or photocopied documents.
  • A copy of your W-2 tax form(s) and/or self-employment tax return from last year. A photocopy is acceptable.
  • A copy of your U.S. military service papers if you served earlier 1968. A photocopy is acceptable.

Every bit you prepare to apply for benefits, commencement 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 awarding.

If applying by phone, get together the data above. Nosotros will walk you through the procedure on the phone.

If applying in person, enquire your local Social Security part what you need to bring when y'all phone call to schedule your appointment. They can assistance you if y'all don't accept all your documents correct now.



How To Apply

Applying online is the easiest way to complete your application at a time that works for y'all, without a trip to the Social Security office. You can also apply by phone or at a Social Security office. This section volition tell y'all about the different options.

Apply Online

Follow these steps to employ online:

  • To kickoff your application, go to our Apply for Benefits folio, read and agree to the Terms of Service. Click "Next."
  • On that page, review the "Getting Set" section to brand sure yous have the information you demand to employ.
  • Select "Beginning A New Application."
  • We will ask a few questions about who is filling out the application.
  • You volition and then sign into your my Social Security account or you will be prompted to create i.
  • Consummate the application.

Scout our video, "Welcome To Our Online Retirement/Medicare Application," for an overview of the process.

Tips For Using The Online Application

We've worked difficult to make applying online as elementary as possible while too keeping your information safety.

For security reasons, the online application gives you a warning if you go out it open up and don't do anything for 25 minutes. Y'all can choose to extend your time on the page if you get this warning. Notwithstanding, after the 3rd warning, you must move to some other page or your data will not be saved.

Here are more tips for using the online awarding:

  • If you go stuck on a question, you tin can skip to the adjacent question and come dorsum afterwards.
  • You can save your application to finish some other fourth dimension if needed. Next time you lot sign in, go to "Return to a Saved Awarding."
  • Yous are not immune to use periods, commas, or other special characters for some answers, including addresses. If you get a message about this, become dorsum and enter the data without periods or other characters.

Start your application now.

Signing The Online Application

You'll have a chance to review your answers and make changes, if needed. Once y'all've filled everything out, we'll ask you to confirm that your answers are true to the best of your noesis. You can be held liable for intentionally providing faux or misleading information.

The last step is to "sign" the online awarding 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

You may help someone else fill out their awarding, simply you are not allowed to sign it for them. Just the person applying for benefits can legally sign the application. If they are not able to sign online, we will mail them a copy to sign. Read more well-nigh Helping Someone Apply Online.

Use With Your Local Office

Yous tin do virtually of your business with Social Security online. If you cannot utilize these online services, your local Social Security part can assist you lot apply. Although our offices are closed to the public, employees from those offices are assisting people by telephone. You tin find the phone number for your local function past using our Field Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Data. The toll-costless "Office" number is your local function.

Apply By Phone

Call one-800-772-1213 (TTY one-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.chiliad. to 7:00 p.one thousand., Mon through Friday, to apply by phone.

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

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



Once You've Applied

One time we receive your application, nosotros'll review it and contact you if we take whatever questions. We might request additional documents from you before we can process your application.

Await For Our Response

Yous'll receive a alphabetic character in the mail with our determination. If y'all included information near other family unit members when you practical, we'll let you know if they may be able to receive benefits from your application.

Check The Status

You can check the status of your application online using your personal my Social Security account. If you are unable to bank check your condition online, yous can phone call united states of america 1-800-772-1213 (TTY ane-800-325-0778) from eight:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.1000., Mon through Friday.

Appeal A Determination

You have a right to appeal whatever conclusion we make near whether you're entitled to benefits. You must request an appeal in writing within threescore days of receiving our decision. There are iv levels of appeal:

  • Reconsideration by Social Security staff.
  • A hearing earlier an administrative law judge.
  • A review by Social Security's Appeals Council.
  • A review past the federal courts.

To acquire more than, visit Appeal A Determination.

Withdraw Your Application

Sometimes, life changes occur after you submit your application. Y'all accept up to 12 months to withdraw your application, if you modify your mind. You will be required to repay whatever benefits yous've already received. Learn more virtually Withdrawing Your Social Security Retirement Application.