There are many benefits available in the Social Security Administration (SSA). You should review the SSA website before you apply to determine what benefits are available and which program(s) you may qualify for.
Retirement benefits was the initial purpose of Social Security, however the system has grown to include benefits for spouses, death benefits and disability for individuals who meet the requirements. Social Security is no longer just a retirement program, it offers many benefits for you and your family.
Social Security has a screening tool on it's website - called BEST - that can help you identify which benefits you could possibly qualify for, including Medicare, disability, retirement, survivor or even SSI benefits. You'll need to give personal information such as your birth date, your earnings, etc., to use this tool.
How Do You Apply for Social Security Benefits?
You can choose to apply for Social Security by calling the office at 1-800-772-1213, visiting an SSA office in person or by filling out your Social Security application online at socialsecurity.gov.
If you prefer to apply online, you can use the online application to sign up for Social Security retirement benefits, spousal benefits or Medicare. You must be within three months of age 62 and planning on beginning your retirement benefits within four months to use the online application. People who are applying for retirement benefits and who are close to age 65 may apply for Medicare simultaneously.
You should be prepared to produce personal information such as your age, work history and financial details when you sign up for Social Security benefits. You should have the following information available before you begin the online application process:
- Your birth certificate
- Your citizenship or naturalization papers (if applicable)
- Your military service papers (if applicable)
- Your W-2 forms or self employment tax return for the last tax year.
In addition, you should be ready to provide the following information:
- your date and place of birth
- your Social Security number
- your bank account and routing number (if you are requesting direct deposit for your benefits)
- your earnings history for the last two years, including your employer's name and address
- information about your military service
- information about your current and any former spouses, including name, Social Security number and date of birth (or age if you don't know the birthdate)
- your most recent Social Security statement
Choosing the best time to apply is crucial when apply for Social Security retirement benefits. Although you have the option of applying as soon as age 62 (early retirement), your benefits will be reduced. Depending on your other sources of income, how much you have saved for retirement, your health, along with other things, applying as soon as you are eligible might not be the best approach. In addition, when you choose to begin Social Security may possibly impact your family and their benefits as well.
There are numerous factors that could influence your Social Security benefits. If you're planning on continuing to work, your benefits may be reduced depending on how much you earn. If you were employed by the government or in a position where you did not contribute to Social Security, your benefits may be reduced. You should read about the windfall elimination provision or the government pension offset if you held a job that wasn't covered by Social Security at any time during your working years.
In addition to your own benefits, if you are married or were married to a former spouse for at least 10 years you may qualify for benefits based on someone else's earnings. Spouses who didn't work or who earned substantially less than their husband or wife can collect benefits based on their spouse's record. Ex-spouses or people who have lost a spouse may qualify for benefits based on their former spouse's record, depending on how long they were married and their earning records. In general, you'll always receive your own benefits first, but you may qualify for a higher amount based on a spouse's or ex-spouse's record depending on the situation. It's important to understand Social Security spousal benefits before you apply to make sure you get the maximum amount you are entitled to.
The Social Security website provides several calculators if you'd like to estimate what your benefit might be. Whether you're ready to apply for Social Security benefits or just want to do some financial planning in advance of your retirement, the ssa.gov website has several tools available to help you.
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