Social Security Benefit Application
You Can Apply for Social Security Benefit:
Online – Use SSA Social Security Retirement/Medicare Benefit Application to apply for retirement, spouse’s, ex-spouse’s or Medicare benefits.
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 you can also – Contact the nearest U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate.
Important Reminders before applying for Social Security Benefits:
You must be at least 61 years and 9 months old to apply for retirement benefits.
If you are already age 62, you may be able to start your benefits in the month you apply.
You should apply for benefits no more than four months before the date you want your benefits to start.
Benefits are paid the month after they are due. (If your benefits start in April, you will receive your first benefit payment in May.)
If you are not getting Social Security and you are not ready to retire, you should still use our online retirement benefit application to sign up for just Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. read more
I can help you with that. Here are some things you need to know about retirement benefits:
Full Retirement Age (FRA): This is the age at which you are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits. Your FRA depends on the year you were born. For example, if you were born in 1960, your FRA is 67.
Early Retirement: You can start receiving Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but your benefits will be reduced if you do so. The reduction is 5/9 of 1% for each month before your FRA.
Delayed Retirement: You can delay receiving Social Security benefits until age 70, and your benefits will increase by 8% for each year you delay.
Medicare: If you are eligible for Social Security benefits, you are also eligible for Medicare. Medicare Part A covers hospital stays, and Part B covers doctor visits and other medical services.
To start the process of applying for retirement benefits, you can visit the Social Security Administration website or call 1-800-772-1213. You will need to provide some basic information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, and work history.
Once you have applied for benefits, the Social Security Administration will review your application and determine your eligibility. If you are approved for benefits, you will start receiving them within a few weeks.
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:
Social Security Administration website: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/
Social Security Administration phone number: 1-800-772-1213
Medicare website: https://www.medicare.gov/
Medicare phone number: 1-800-MEDICARE
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.