How to Apply for Social Security Retirement Benefits

When you can apply

You can apply for retirement benefits as early as age 61 and 9 months, since Social Security generally accepts applications up to four months before you want your payments to start. Applying early doesn't start your payments early — it just gives SSA time to process your claim so payments begin on the date you choose, which can be any month from age 62 onward. If you're applying right at or after your full retirement age, you can also request retroactive benefits for up to six months before your application date, but never for a month before you reached full retirement age.

Applying online at ssa.gov

Applying online is the fastest option — SSA reports that about 65% of retirement applicants complete the process this way. You'll need a personal mySocial Security account, which you can create using either a Login.gov or an ID.me sign-in; either works equally well, so pick whichever you're more comfortable with. The application itself typically takes 10 to 30 minutes, and you can save your progress and finish later if you need to step away. If something about your situation can't be processed online, SSA will tell you what to do next, whether that's a phone call or an appointment.

Applying by phone or in person

If you'd rather not apply online, you can call the National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, to schedule an appointment with a representative who will complete the application with you — note that phone appointment availability can run 30 days out or more, so call well before your intended start date. You can also apply in person at your local Social Security field office; call ahead to schedule, since most in-person visits now require an appointment.

Documents and information you'll need

Whichever way you apply, be ready to provide your Social Security number, proof of age (your birth certificate or another official record), and — if you weren't born in the U.S. — proof of citizenship or lawful immigration status. You'll also need your marital history, including dates of marriage or divorce if you're applying for spousal benefits too, your most recent W-2 or self-employment tax return, and your bank's routing and account number for direct deposit. If you served in the military before 2002, your service dates and discharge papers can also qualify you for special earnings credits that raise your benefit.

When your first payment arrives

Social Security must pay retirement benefits electronically — either by direct deposit or onto a Direct Express Debit Mastercard — so you'll set that up as part of your application if you haven't already. After you apply, expect a decision letter within about 30 days confirming your benefit amount or requesting more information; if you asked for payments to start in a future month, that letter typically arrives about 30 days before your start date. Your first payment generally arrives roughly a month after your chosen start date, since Social Security pays benefits a month behind, on a schedule tied to your birth date.

Working while receiving retirement benefits

You can keep working while receiving retirement benefits, but if you haven't yet reached full retirement age, earning above a certain limit temporarily reduces your payments. In 2026, SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above $24,480 for the year. In the calendar year you reach full retirement age, the limit is higher and the withholding lighter — $1 for every $3 earned above $65,160, counting only earnings before the month you hit full retirement age. None of this money is lost permanently: once you reach full retirement age, SSA recalculates your benefit going forward to credit back the months that were withheld.

Information to have ready

• Social Security number
• Birth certificate or other proof of age
• Most recent W-2, or self-employment tax return if self-employed
• Military service dates and discharge papers, if applicable
• Bank routing and account number for direct deposit