How to apply for benefits

First, find out if you are eligible for Social Security benefits

To help identify all the different Social Security programs for which you may be eligible, use our Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST).
 

You can apply

• Online - use our Social Security Retirement Benefit Application.

• By phone - call us at 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call us at TTY 1-800-325-0778.

• In person - visit your local Social Security office. (Call first to make an appointment.)

• If you do not live in the U.S. or one of its territories - contact the nearest U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate, or the Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO) in the Philippines.

Reminders:

• You must be at least 61 years and 9 months old to apply for retirement benefits.
• You should apply for benefits no more than four months before the date you want your benefits to start.
• If you are already age 62, you may be able to start your benefits in the month you apply.
• If you are not getting Social Security and you are not ready to retire, you should still sign up for Medicare four months before your 65th birthday.  

When you apply

Please be ready to supply the information we need to approve your application for these benefits:

• Retirement or Medicare
• Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's
• Child's

We may ask you to provide certain documents to show that you are eligible and help us decide how much your benefits should be. If you do not have a birth certificate, you may request one from the state where you were born. For details on where to write in your state, check Where to Write for Vital Records.

Also, bring along your bank information so you can sign up for Direct Deposit. If you do not have a bank account you can sign up for the Direct Express® card program. With Direct Express®, deposits from federal payments are made directly to the card.

Thank you for using the Social Security Retirement Planner.
We hope it was useful to you.