Apply for Retirement Benefits

Starting your Social Security retirement benefits is a major step on your retirement journeying. This page will guide yous through the procedure of applying for retirement benefits when you're ready to take that step. Our online application is a user-friendly way to utilize on your ain schedule, without an appointment. You can as well employ past phone or by appointment at a Social Security office.

Jump to a topic on this page:

Earlier Yous Apply / How To Apply / One time You've Applied



Before You Apply

Earlier you apply, accept fourth dimension to review the basics, sympathise the process, and gather the documents you'll demand to complete an application.

Review Retirement Benefits Basics

You can outset your retirement benefits as early as age 62 or as belatedly as age 70. If you lot're preparing to apply for retirement benefits, knowing when you're eligible to use and how the system works are the first steps in choosing what age is correct for you. Before y'all submit an application, get to our Learn Nearly Retirement Benefits page to empathise:

  • How yous authorize for Social Security benefits.
  • How your earnings and age can touch your benefits.
  • What y'all should consider in deciding when to start receiving benefits.
  • Retirement benefits for spouses and family members.

Sympathize The Application Process

The retirement benefits application process follows these full general steps, whether you employ online, past phone, or in person:

  • Gather the information and documents you need to apply.
  • Complete and submit your application.
  • We review your application and contact you lot if we demand more information.
  • We mail yous a decision letter of the alphabet.
  • You lot get-go receiving your retirement benefits.
How Early Can I Use?

You must exist at to the lowest degree age 62 for the entire month to exist eligible to receive benefits. If you lot were built-in on the first or 2d mean solar day of the month, you meet this requirement in the month of your 62nd birthday. If you were born on any other day of the month, you do not run across this requirement until the following month.

Y'all can utilize up to iv months before you want your retirement benefits to start. For case, if you turn 62 on December 2, y'all tin can start your benefits as early every bit December. If you want your benefits to start in December, you can apply in August. If yous turn 62 any solar day later on December 2, you are non age 62 for the entire month of December. You can first your benefits as early every bit January when yous are 62 for the unabridged month. If you want your benefits to start in Jan, yous can apply in September.

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

Ready To Start Medicare?

If y'all'll turn 65 within 3 months, you tin utilise our online application to apply for Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits at the aforementioned time, or y'all tin use information technology to utilize for just Medicare. To learn more than most your Medicare options, review our section on Medicare Benefits.

Applying As A Spouse Or Family unit Member

You may be able to receive retirement benefits on your spouse or former spouse's record. Also, your spouse or family fellow member may be able to receive benefits on your tape if they qualify. Learn more than about Benefits For Your Family.

Retirement Benefits For Survivors

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

Get together Information You Demand to Apply

Before applying, be ready to provide your Social Security number and information about:

  • Dates of electric current and previous marriages, and where you lot were married.
  • U.S. armed services service dates and branches.
  • Employer names and dates for the past ii years.
  • Self-employment income and type of business.
  • Banking concern information to set up your direct deposit.
  • Data 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 process your application. These documents may include:

  • Your original nativity certificate or other proof of your historic period. This must be the original document or a certified re-create from the issuing agency.
  • Proof of U.Southward. citizenship if yous were not born in the U.South. and take not submitted proof for an earlier Medicare or Social Security claim. We must see the original document(southward) or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept expired, notarized, or photocopied documents.
  • A copy of your W-2 revenue enhancement form(south) and/or self-employment tax return from terminal year. A photocopy is acceptable.
  • A re-create of your U.S. war machine service papers if you served before 1968. A photocopy is adequate.

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

If applying by telephone, assemble the information above. We will walk you through the process on the phone.

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



How To Apply

Applying online is the easiest way to complete your application at a time that works for you, without a trip to the Social Security office. You tin can likewise use by phone or at a Social Security office. This department will tell you about the different options.

Apply Online

Follow these steps to apply online:

  • To starting time your application, get to our Apply for Benefits page, read and concur to the Terms of Service. Click "Next."
  • On that page, review the "Getting Ready" department to make sure you have the information you need to apply.
  • Select "First A New Application."
  • We will ask a few questions about who is filling out the application.
  • Yous will and so sign into your my Social Security business relationship or you volition be prompted to create one.
  • Consummate the application.

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

Tips For Using The Online Application

We've worked hard to brand applying online equally simple every bit possible while besides keeping your data condom.

For security reasons, the online application gives yous a warning if you lot exit it open and don't do anything for 25 minutes. You tin can choose to extend your time on the folio if you get this warning. Yet, after the tertiary warning, you must movement to another page or your information volition not be saved.

Here are more tips for using the online application:

  • If yous get stuck on a question, you lot tin skip to the next question and come dorsum later.
  • You can salvage your awarding to finish another time if needed. Side by side time yous sign in, get to "Render to a Saved Awarding."
  • You are non allowed to use periods, commas, or other special characters for some answers, including addresses. If you get a bulletin almost this, go back and enter the data without periods or other characters.

Showtime your awarding at present.

Signing The Online Application

You'll have a take a chance to review your answers and brand changes, if needed. Once you've filled everything out, we'll inquire y'all to ostend that your answers are true to the all-time of your knowledge. You can be held liable for intentionally providing false or misleading information.

The last step is to "sign" the online awarding past clicking "Submit Now." You can check the status of your submitted awarding using a confirmation number we provide.

Helping Someone Else Apply Online

You may help someone else fill up out their application, merely you are not allowed to sign it for them. Only the person applying for benefits can legally sign the application. If they are not able to sign online, nosotros will mail service them a copy to sign. Read more about Helping Someone Use Online.

Apply With Your Local Function

You can do well-nigh of your business with Social Security online. If you cannot utilise these online services, your local Social Security role tin help you apply. Although our offices are airtight to the public, employees from those offices are assisting people by telephone. You tin can find the telephone number for your local part by using our Field Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Information. The cost-free "Role" number is your local function.

Apply By Phone

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

If You Practice Non Live In The U.South. Or One Of Its Territories

Contact the Federal Benefits Unit for your land of residence if you lot live outside the U.Southward. or a U.S. territory and wish to apply for retirement benefits.



Once Yous've Practical

Once we receive your application, nosotros'll review it and contact you lot if we have any questions. We might asking boosted documents from you before we can procedure your application.

Look For Our Response

You'll receive a letter in the postal service with our decision. If you included information about other family members when you applied, we'll let you lot know if they may exist able to receive benefits from your application.

Check The Status

You tin can check the condition of your awarding online using your personal my Social Security account. If you lot are unable to check your condition online, y'all tin can telephone call us ane-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Appeal A Conclusion

You lot have a right to appeal any decision nosotros make about whether you're entitled to benefits. You must request an appeal in writing within 60 days of receiving our decision. In that location are iv levels of appeal:

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

To learn more, visit Appeal A Decision.

Withdraw Your Application

Sometimes, life changes occur after you lot submit your application. You have upwardly to 12 months to withdraw your application, if you change your heed. You will be required to repay any benefits yous've already received. Acquire more than almost Withdrawing Your Social Security Retirement Application.