Starting your Social Security retirement benefits is a major step on your retirement journey. This page will guide you 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 can also apply by phone or by appointment at a Social Security office.
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Before you apply, take time to review the basics, understand the process, and gather the documents you’ll need to complete an application. We encourage you to create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account to verify your earnings. Your future benefits are based on the earnings we have on your earnings record.
You can start your retirement benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. If you’re preparing to apply for retirement benefits, knowing when you’re eligible to apply and how the system works are the first steps in choosing what age is right for you. Before you submit an application, go to our Learn About Retirement Benefits page to understand:
The retirement benefits application process follows these general steps, whether you apply online, by phone, or in person:
You must be at least age 62 for the entire month to be eligible to receive benefits. If you were born on the first or second 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 meet this requirement until the following month.
You can apply up to four months before you want your retirement benefits to start. For example, if you turn 62 on December 2, you can start your benefits as early as December. If you want your benefits to start in December, you can apply in August. If you turn 62 any day after December 2, you are not age 62 for the entire month of December. You can start your benefits as early as January when you are 62 for the entire month. If you want your benefits to start in January, you can apply in September.
Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month they are due. If you are due benefits for the month of December, you will receive your first check in January for December.
If you’ll turn 65 within three months, you can use our online application to apply for Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time, or you can use it to apply for just Medicare. To learn more about your Medicare options, review our section on Medicare Benefits.
You may be able to receive retirement benefits on your spouse or former spouse’s record. Likewise, your spouse or family member may be able to receive benefits on your record if they qualify. Learn more about Benefits For Your Family.
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 see how Social Security survivor benefits relate to your situation.
Before applying, be ready to provide your Social Security number and information about:
We will ask for certain documents we need to review and process your application. These documents may include:
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 information above. 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 appointment. They can help you if you don’t have all your documents right now.
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 can also apply by phone or at a Social Security office. This section will tell you about the different options.
Follow these steps to apply online:
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 leave it open and don’t do anything for 25 minutes. You can choose to extend your time on the page if you get this warning. However, after the third warning, you must move to another page or your information will not be saved.
Here are more tips for using the online application:
You’ll have a chance to review your answers and make changes, if needed. Once you’ve filled everything out, we’ll ask you to confirm that your answers are true to the best of your knowledge. You can be held liable for intentionally providing false or misleading information.
The last step is to “sign” the online application by clicking “Submit Now.” You can check the status of your submitted application using a confirmation number we provide.
You may help someone else fill out their application, but 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, we will mail them a copy to sign. Read more about Helping Someone Apply Online.
You can do most of your business with Social Security online. If you cannot use these online services, your local Social Security office can help you apply. Although our offices are closed to the public, employees from those offices are assisting people by telephone. You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Field Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Information. The toll-free “Office” number is your local office.
Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to apply by phone.
Contact the Federal Benefits Unit for your country of residence if you live outside the U.S. or a U.S. territory and wish to apply for retirement benefits.
