Retirement Benefits 


Apply for Retirement Benefits 
Social Security offers an online retirement application that you can complete in as little as 15 minutes. It's so easy. Better yet , you can apply from the comfort of your home or office at a time most convenient for you. There's no need to drive to a local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative. In most cases , once your application is submitted electronically , you're done. Social Security will process your application and contact you by telephone or by mail if any further information is needed. Apply for Retirement Benefits Return to a Saved Application|Check Application Status If you prefer to complete your application in a language other than English , the online application will give you the option to schedule an appointment to apply for benefits in your preferred language. The online application is currently only available in English. 

Questions about our Social Security Retirement Benefits Application 


Who can apply for retirement benefits online? 
You can apply online for retirement benefits or benefits as a spouse if you : are at least 61 years and 8 months old ; Are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record ; have not already applied for retirement benefits ; and want your benefits to start no more than 4 months in the future. We cannot process your application if you apply for benefits more than 4 months in advance. 

What about Medicare? 
If you already have Medicare , you can still use this application to apply for retirement benefits. If you don t have Medicare but are within 3 months of age 65 , you can use this application to apply for : both retirement and Medicare ; or just Medicare , if you aren't ready to receive retirement benefits yet. For more information , go to Medicare. 

What do I need to know before I apply? 
Before you apply for retirement benefits , there are certain Social Security " basics " you should

user: I need help regarding my retirement benefits.

assistant: Do you need help with applying for retirement benefits?

user: Yes, please.

assistant: Social Security offers an online retirement application that you can complete in as little as 15 minutes. It's very easy.

assistant: Do you prefer to complete your application in a language other than English?

user: No, English is fine for me. Thanks.

assistant: Well, the online application will give you the option to schedule an appointment to apply for benefits in your preferred language. It is currently only available in English.

user: Do you have more information about Medicare?

assistant: If you want to know more about Medicare, visit the Medicare page to find out.

user: Is there anything else I should know before applying?

assistant: Before you apply for retirement benefits, there are certain Social Security "basics" you should know about. For example regarding your full retirement age.

user: Can I use special characters when answering some of the questions?

assistant: Unfortunately, you may not be able to use periods, commas, and other special characters when you answer some of the questions. 

user: What if I want to apply for benefits at a later time?

assistant: You may do that, but you will not be able to check the status of your application until one month before you start receiving benefits .