You should apply for retirement benefits four months before you want your benefits to start. The easiest and most convenient way to apply for retirement benefits is by using our online application. You will need to create or log in to your personal my Social Security account. If we are not able to process your request, you will receive specific information on how to contact us by phone or schedule an appointment.
Apply for Retirement Benefits
We may need to see certain documents to complete your application. If you apply online, a list of documents we need to see will appear at the end of the application, along with instructions on where to submit them. The documents we may ask for are:
- Your original birth certificate or other proof of birth [more info] (You may also submit a copy of your birth certificate certified by the issuing agency).
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States [more info].
- A copy of your U.S. military service paper(s) (e.g., DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) if you had military service before 1968 [more info].
- A copy of your W-2 form(s) [more info] and/or self-employment tax return [more info] for last year.
For more information, go to Apply for Retirement Benefits.
You can also apply:
- By phone - Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- 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.
Other Questions You May Find Helpful
- How far in advance can I apply for Social Security retirement benefits?
- How do I return to an online application for retirement benefits that I already started but did not finish?
- How do I check the status of a pending application for benefits?
You should apply for retirement benefits four months before you want your payments to start. The easiest and most convenient way to apply for retirement benefits is by using our online application. You will be asked to create or log in to your personal my Social Security account. If we are not able to process your request, you will receive specific information on how to contact us by phone or schedule an appointment.
Apply for Retirement Benefits
We may need to see certain documents in order to pay benefits. If you apply online, a list of documents we need to see will appear at the end of the application, along with instructions on where to submit them. The documents we may ask for are:
- your original birth certificate or other proof of birth [more info] (You may also submit a copy of your birth certificate certified by the issuing agency);
- proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States [more info];
- a copy of your U.S. military service paper(s) (e.g., DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) if you had military service before 1968; [more info]; and
- a copy of your W-2 form(s) [more info] and/or self-employment tax return [more info] for last year.
For more information, go to Applying Online for Retirement Benefits.
You can also apply:
- By phone - Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm; or
- 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.
Other Questions You May Find Helpful
- How far in advance can I apply for Social Security retirement benefits?
- How do I return to an online application for retirement benefits that I already started but did not finish?
- How do I check the status of a pending application for benefits?
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We want you to know what Social Security can mean for you and your family’s financial future. In this section, you can learn how Social Security works, who’s eligible for retirement benefits, and what to consider before applying. Read on to understand how Social Security fits into your retirement plan.
Jump to a topic on this page:
How Retirement Benefits Work / Planning For Retirement / Deciding When To Start Retirement Benefits / What Else Affects Your Retirement Benefits
How Retirement Benefits Work
Social Security replaces a percentage of your pre-retirement income based on their lifetime earnings. The portion of your pre-retirement wages that Social Security replaces is based on your highest 35 years of earnings and varies depending on how much you earn and when you choose to start benefits.
When you work, you pay taxes into Social Security. We use the tax money to pay benefits to:
- People who have already retired.
- People who are disabled.
- Survivors of workers who have died.
- Dependents of beneficiaries.
The money you pay in taxes isn’t held in a personal account for you to use when you get benefits. We use your taxes to pay people who are getting benefits right now. Any unused money goes to the Social Security trust fund that pays monthly benefits to you and your family when you start receiving retirement benefits.
Planning For Retirement
Planning is the key to creating your best retirement. You’ll need to plan and save for years to achieve your retirement goals. While many factors affect retirement planning, we want you to understand what Social Security can mean to you and your family’s financial future.
Social Security Should Be Just One Part of Your Retirement Plan
On average, retirement beneficiaries receive a portion of their pre-retirement income from Social Security. As you make your retirement plan, knowing the approximate amount you will receive in Social Security benefits can help you determine how much other retirement income you’ll need to reach your goals.
Are You Eligible?
When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn “credits” toward Social Security benefits. The number of credits you need to get retirement benefits depends on when you were born. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (usually, this is 10 years of work).
If you stop working before you have enough credits to qualify for benefits, the credits will remain on your Social Security record. If you return to work later, more credits may be added. We can’t pay any retirement benefits until you have 40 credits. Visit our retirement benefits webpage for more information on how Social Security Credits work.
Verify Your Earnings History
The amount of the Social Security benefits you or your family receives depends on the amount of earnings shown on your record. Regularly checking your Social Security earnings history can help ensure there are no surprises when it’s time for you to start receiving benefits. You can find your earnings history with a personal my Social Security account. Create your account now to check your earnings history online.
Estimate Your Benefits
Knowing what you will get every month in retirement benefits helps you plan for your retirement. If you have a personal my Social Security account, you can get an estimate of your personalized retirement benefits and see the effects of different retirement age scenarios. If you don’t have a personal my Social Security account, create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Additional Information
- Anytime is the Right Time to Save for Your Future
- Spruce Up Your Financial Plan With Social Security
- Income From Pensions, Annuities, Interest, And Dividends
- Monitoring Your Earnings Can Really Pay Off
- Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST)
Deciding When To Start Retirement Benefits
Choosing when to start receiving retirement benefits is a personal decision. If you choose to retire and begin receiving benefits when you reach your full retirement age, you’ll receive your full benefit amount. We will reduce your benefit amount if you decide to start benefits before reaching full retirement age.
To make an informed choice, consider the following factors as you think about when to start your Social Security benefits.
What Age Should You Start To Receive Benefits?
The age you begin receiving your retirement benefit affects how much your monthly benefits will be. There are three important things to know about age when thinking about when to start your benefits.
Full Retirement AgeFull retirement age is the age when you can start receiving your full retirement benefit amount. The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960, until it reaches 67. For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67. You can find your full retirement age by birth year in the full retirement age chart.
Early Retirement AgeYou can get Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, we’ll reduce your benefit if you start receiving benefits before your full retirement age. Visit our website to learn how claiming retirement benefits early will affect your benefit amount.
Delayed Retirement AgeWhen you delay benefits beyond your full retirement age, the amount of your retirement benefit will continue to increase up until age 70. There is no incentive to delay claiming after age 70.