Our Online Benefits Application
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: November 3, 2023
Social Security is committed to protecting and securing the information entrusted to us. We’re constantly looking for ways for you to save time by conducting your business anytime, anywhere, using our online services.
Our online benefits application provides a high level of security and protection for the information you provide. Filing online gives you the freedom and convenience to file for various types of benefits including Retirement, Disability, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare.
Follow these simple steps to begin:
- Review the information on our Retirement/Spouse’s, Disability, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income Benefits page to make sure you meet the requirements to apply for benefits online and have the information you will need to do so.
- Create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account.
- File your claim online.
- Check the status of your claim by signing in to your personal my Social Security account.
You should be able to complete and submit your application all at once. But if that’s not possible, you can return to your application and continue right where you left off!
After you’ve completed your application, we’ll also give you a confirmation number to check the status, and information on what to do next. If we are not able to process the request, we will provide specific information on how to contact us by phone or schedule an office appointment.
Applying for benefits online is safer, easier, and more secure than ever!
Learn more by watching our videos on our online retirement, spouse’s, and Medicare benefits application and our online disability benefits application.
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Tags: my Social Security, online services, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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lauren s.
HI, I was classified as single for social security, but I am a widower. My spouse dies 21/2 years ago. How do I correct this so I get the right payment? Don’t know if it matters but he was veteran
Barry O.
I am now retired. How do I begin the application process for a dependent child?
V.V.
Hi Barry, thanks for using our blog. If you’re receiving Social Security retirement benefits and you need to apply for your minor child, you should call your local office as you cannot apply for that online. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal.
Mary S.
Hello. I have been receiving spousal social security benefit for the last year but now I would like to begin receiving my own benefit (effective January 2021). How do I go about making that change? Thanks.
V.V.
Hi Mary, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. You can apply four months before you want your Social Security retirement benefits to start. Once you’re ready to apply, the easiest way to complete your application is online.
If you need further assistance, call us at 1-800-772-1213 or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Carolyn S.
I applied for social security benefits to begin 1/1/21 and my application is still pending. Should I be concerned that it has not been approved yet? I called SS and they said they didn’t know what was holding it up and said I they didn’t need any additional info.
Rosanne B.
I have repeatedly tried to start my online application for Social Security benefits and I am within the correct timeframe. It keeps telling me it can’t process my request because “some of the information on file is different then the information provided.” It had no problem with my medicare application which was just approved. I have seen my Social Security Statement and nothing I put in doesn’t match what’s on there. What’s the problem?
Blane N.
Hi,
I will be 70 in February and need to apply to begin receiving retirement benefits. I have tried twice to log onto my mySocialSecurity account, and both times, although I have answered my security questions correctly, they tell me they can’t verify my identity and will mail me a temporary password. It’s been over a month for one and 3 weeks for the other one and I have received no mail from the Social Security Administration. Can you help me out with this problem? Thanks
V.V.
Hi Blane, thanks for using our blog. We apologize for the difficulties you are experiencing with your my Social Security account. To make an appointment to file for retirement benefits and receive assistance with your account, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 or you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Debra M.
I am 70 years old and need to change from receiving spousal benefits to my own benefits. Can you please direct me to the appropriate form to do this? Thanks.
Danielle G.
Yes I apologize I also applied for a replacement card online in which keeps locking me out or maybe I keep forgetting my password, however I never got my replacement card or the login code mailed to me either!
Neil T.
If I begin receiving my retirement benefit in 2021 does my 2020 income count for the benefit calculation?
S.D.
Hi, Neil. That’s a great question. Unless you provide us your 2020 W-2 or an end-of-year paystub, your 2021 benefit amount will not include your 2020 earnings until we receive that figure from the IRS later in 2021. If your earnings for 2020 are greater than one of the years we used to compute your benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount. (See our fact sheet, Your Retirement Benefit: How it’s Figured.) Our automatic recalculation may not occur until later in the calendar year. If you are due an increase due to your 2020 earnings, we will send you a letter to notify you of your new benefit amount and pay you any increase retroactive to January of the year after you earned the money. For more details, see our Frequently Asked Questions web page and our Receiving Benefits While Working web page.
Andy I.
I live in Austria and was already contacted by FBU Frankfurt in August 2020 (by phone) regarding my retirement, which was planned for November2020. I was told to be contacted within a few days again for further details – but since than I have not heard from them since. I have sent mails – and only got the message “multiple delivery attempts failed”. I also got in contact with the embassy in Vienna, where I only was referred to Frankfurt. How can I get in touch with them? How can I can I get my retirment payments?
Andy S.
I live in Austria and was already contacted by FBU Frankfurt in August 2020 (by phone) regarding my retirement, which was planned for November2020. I was told to be contacted within a few days again for further details – but since than I have not heard from them since. I have sent mails – and only got the message “multiple delivery attempts failed”. I also got in contact with the embassy in Vienna, where I only was referred to Frankfurt. How can I get in touch with them? How can I can I get my retirment payments?
V.V.
Hi Andy, thanks for using our blog. We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing. We would ask that you continue to work with your Federal Benefit Unit. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Hopefully this helps.
Danielle G.
Hi I was contacted after giving my number on my mother number. Anyhow I’m still waiting on a decision. I’m not in good shelter. I’m homeless, I reach out and give my number yet my mother gets the return call . Although I did speak to her the one in charge of my appeal. I just cant gorsee how this can be much longer by satire have zero income . I need help.
WILLIAM M.
If I reach full retirement age on July 3rd 2021. When should I fill my application to get things started?
V.V.
Hi William, thanks for using our blog. If you wait until your full retirement age, you will get your full benefit. If you reach full retirement age on July 3rd, you will attain your full retirement age in July. One exception to that is for individuals that are born on the 1st of the month. We figure their benefit (and their full retirement age) as if their birthday was in the previous month. Our system is set up to take applications four months in advance, and when you’re ready, you can apply for your benefits online. We hope this is helpful!
Paul F.
This did not answer the question. All William wants to know is when he should apply. I’m sure William doesn’t want his payments to start before July 3 which would reduce his benefit. I would like to know if you can have benefits not start until your birthdate but, complete the application prior.
V.V.
Hi Paul. You can apply for retirement benefits four months before you want your Social Security retirement benefits to start.