Utilize for Retirement Benefits

Starting your Social Security retirement benefits is a major step on your retirement journey. This page will guide y'all through the process of applying for retirement benefits when you're ready to take that step. Our online application is a convenient way to apply on your own schedule, without an appointment. You tin can also use by phone or by appointment at a Social Security office.

Spring to a topic on this page:

Before You Employ / How To Apply / Once You've Applied



Before You Apply

Earlier yous utilise, take time to review the basics, sympathize the process, and gather the documents you'll need to complete an awarding.

Review Retirement Benefits Basics

Yous tin outset your retirement benefits as early every bit age 62 or every bit late every bit age 70. If you're preparing to apply for retirement benefits, knowing when you're eligible to utilize and how the organization works are the starting time steps in choosing what age is right for you. Before you lot submit an application, get to our Learn About Retirement Benefits page to understand:

  • How you qualify for Social Security benefits.
  • How your earnings and age 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 application process follows these full general steps, whether you apply online, by phone, or in person:

  • Assemble the information and documents you need to use.
  • Complete and submit your application.
  • We review your application and contact you if we need more than data.
  • We mail you a determination letter of the alphabet.
  • Y'all beginning receiving your retirement benefits.
How Early Tin can I Apply?

You lot must be at least age 62 for the entire calendar month to exist eligible to receive benefits. If you were born on the first or 2nd twenty-four hour period of the calendar month, yous meet this requirement in the month of your 62nd altogether. If you lot were built-in on whatsoever other day of the month, you do not run into this requirement until the following month.

You can employ upward to iv months before you desire your retirement benefits to get-go. For example, if you lot turn 62 on Dec ii, you can start your benefits as early as Dec. If you want your benefits to start in Dec, you can apply in August. If you turn 62 whatever day after December 2, you are not historic period 62 for the unabridged month of December. You can offset your benefits as early equally January when you are 62 for the entire month. If yous want your benefits to start in Jan, you tin can apply in September.

Social Security benefits are paid in the calendar month post-obit the month they are due. If y'all 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 you'll turn 65 inside three months, y'all can utilise our online application to utilise for Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time, or you can use it to apply for just Medicare. To learn more nearly your Medicare options, review our section on Medicare Benefits.

Applying Equally A Spouse Or Family Fellow member

You may be able to receive retirement benefits on your spouse or former spouse's record. Besides, your spouse or family fellow member may exist able to receive benefits on your tape if they qualify. Learn more 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 folio to meet how Social Security survivor benefits relate to your state of affairs.

Gather Information You Demand to Apply

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

  • Dates of current and previous marriages, and where you lot were married.
  • U.S. military service dates and branches.
  • Employer names and dates for the past ii years.
  • Self-employment income and type of business organization.
  • Bank information to fix your direct deposit.
  • Information on family unit members who may be eligible to receive benefits on your record.

Nosotros will ask for sure documents nosotros need to review and process 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.Due south. citizenship if you lot were not born in the U.S. and have not submitted proof for an before Medicare or Social Security claim. Nosotros must encounter the original document(s) or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot take expired, notarized, or photocopied documents.
  • A copy of your W-2 tax grade(s) and/or self-employment tax return from final year. A photocopy is acceptable.
  • A copy of your U.S. military machine service papers if y'all served before 1968. A photocopy is adequate.

Equally y'all set up 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 past telephone, gather the information higher up. 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 call to schedule your date. They tin can help you if you don't take all your documents right now.



How To Apply

Applying online is the easiest mode to complete your application at a time that works for you, without a trip to the Social Security part. You tin can too utilize past phone or at a Social Security function. This department will tell you about the different options.

Apply Online

Follow these steps to apply online:

  • To get-go your application, go to our Apply for Benefits page, read and agree to the Terms of Service. Click "Next."
  • On that page, review the "Getting Ready" section to make certain y'all accept the information y'all need to utilise.
  • Select "First A New Awarding."
  • We volition enquire a few questions virtually who is filling out the awarding.
  • You will then sign into your my Social Security account or you volition be prompted to create i.
  • Complete the application.

Sentinel 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 equally simple as possible while also keeping your information safe.

For security reasons, the online application gives you a warning if y'all get out it open up and don't do anything for 25 minutes. Yous can cull to extend your time on the page if yous get this warning. However, subsequently the third alert, you must motility to another page or your information volition non exist saved.

Hither are more tips for using the online application:

  • If you lot become stuck on a question, y'all tin skip to the next question and come back later.
  • You can save your application to end another time if needed. Next time you sign in, go to "Return to a Saved Application."
  • You are not allowed to use periods, commas, or other special characters for some answers, including addresses. If you get a message about this, go back and enter the information without periods or other characters.

Start your application now.

Signing The Online Application

You'll take a gamble to review your answers and make changes, if needed. One time you've filled everything out, we'll ask you to confirm that your answers are truthful to the best of your cognition. You can be held liable for intentionally providing faux or misleading information.

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

Helping Someone Else Apply Online

You may help someone else fill up out their application, but you lot are non immune to sign information technology for them. Just the person applying for benefits can legally sign the awarding. If they are non able to sign online, nosotros will mail service them a copy to sign. Read more about Helping Someone Utilize Online.

Apply With Your Local Office

You can do almost of your concern with Social Security online. If you cannot use these online services, your local Social Security office tin can help you apply. Although our offices are airtight to the public, employees from those offices are profitable people by phone. You tin find the telephone number for your local office by using our Field Office Locator and looking under Social Security Part Information. The toll-free "Office" number is your local office.

Use By Phone

Phone call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.thousand. to 7:00 p.1000., Mon through Friday, to utilise by phone.

If You Exercise Non Live In The U.South. Or Ane Of Its Territories

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



Once You've Practical

Once we receive your application, we'll review information technology and contact yous if we have any questions. We might asking additional documents from y'all before we tin can process your application.

Look For Our Response

You lot'll receive a letter in the mail with our determination. If you included information about other family members when you lot applied, nosotros'll let you know if they may be able to receive benefits from your application.

Bank check The Status

You can check the status of your application online using your personal my Social Security account. If you are unable to check your condition online, yous tin can call u.s. 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.thou. to 7:00 p.grand., Monday through Friday.

Appeal A Determination

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

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

To learn more than, visit Appeal A Decision.

Withdraw Your Application

Sometimes, life changes occur later on you submit your application. You have up to 12 months to withdraw your awarding, if yous change your mind. You will be required to repay any benefits you've already received. Learn more most Withdrawing Your Social Security Retirement Application.