How do I apply for Social Security retirement benefits? (2024)

FAQs

How do I apply for Social Security retirement benefits? ›

You can also apply by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time or visiting your local Social Security office.

Timing your first benefit payment

Your first check won't arrive until the month after the one you pick in your application. You can apply any time up to four months before the month you pick. For example, you want your first check in April.

For general Social Security inquiries, call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

□ Applying for your benefits

Once you have decided when you want to start receiving your monthly Social Security benefit, you can apply up to four months before the date you want your benefits to start. Visit www.ssa.gov/retire to apply.

If you're claiming Social Security retirement benefits, plan on at least six weeks for your application to be processed. However, if your application has incorrect information or the agency is backlogged, it could take up to three months before benefits begin, warns AARP.

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

You may request that your benefit begin in August with the first payment in September. By requesting that your benefit begin in your birthday month, you will receive the maximum possible monthly payment for the rest of your life.

What is the #1 reason to take Social Security at 62? ›

You need cash now. With the rising cost of living, you may decide to claim your Social Security benefits early. From 2008 to 2009, nearly 36% of eligible men and 39% of eligible women started claiming benefits at age 62 for one simple reason — to pay the bills.

The interviewer will ask you questions about basic personal information, your disability and medical history, your employment history over the last 15 years, your job duties, other sources of income, your household, and other resources you have access to.

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.

You can call our National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter early in the day (between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time) or later in the afternoon (between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time).

Social Security tax FAQs

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

• If you become disabled before your full retirement age, you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits. You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five of the last 10 years.

Apply for a Social Security number

If you're in the U.S., you can apply online, then go to a local Social Security office to provide your documentation. Once your application is approved, you'll receive a Social Security card with your number on it by mail within 14 days.

If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase. If you start receiving benefits early, your benefits are reduced a small percent for each month before your full retirement age.