Online Services

Our Online Benefits Application

October 4, 2018 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: November 3, 2023

woman relaxing on couch, using laptop 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account. 
  3. File your claim online.
  4. 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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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Steven D.

    Hello, I do not remember my 3 security questions, therefore I had a Temp Password sent to me via mail. I enter the Temp password and the web site says EXPIRED !
    There is No online CHAT ? I can’t wait another 5 days for another Temp Password. Can someone call me or EMAIL it to me ?

    HELP!

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Steven. We are sorry you have had difficulty accessing your personal my Social Security account. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If you are still unable to access an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
      •Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
      •Contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  2. Jan P.

    I completed my application but there is no place to sign or submit it. How do I do this?

  3. Roxane M.

    I will be 65 in May and still employed. I do not plan to retire until Dec 2022, so I will still be covered under my employer’s medical insurance. But I plan to start to collect SS at 66. Do I still need to apply with SS now to defer any of the plans?

  4. Lorene A.

    I cannot find any box that provides a link or obvious place to sign in with a re-entry number. I do not have a My Social Security Account and I need to be able to get back to filling in my application.

    Any help most appreciated.

  5. Y.O. D.

    ON THE APPLICATION FOR BENEFITS – MY COUNTRY OF BIRTH IS NOT LISTED IN THE DROP DOWN, AND THE FIELD DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO ENTER A COUNTRY. THUS, I CANNOT COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FOR SS BENEFITS AS IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO PROCEED TO THE NEXT PAGE.

    WHAT DO I DO????

    • Vonda V.

      Hi there. If the place where you were born is not listed, please make sure to use the name of the country at the time of your birth. The names of countries or places of birth may change over time. For example, you should select “Soviet Union” if you were born in a country that is not on the list but used to be part of the “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics” (USSR).

  6. Christopher S.

    I can not create an account. I do not have an activation code. How do I create and account without one?

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Christopher, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. You do not need an activation code to create an account. When you go to http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount, click on Create An Account. On the next page, half way down, you’ll click on another button that says “Create an Account“, it’s just above the button that says “Enter Activation Code”.

      If you need assistance when creating your account, you may:
      •Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
      •Visit your local Social Security office and request an activation code.

  7. Andrea J.

    Are you kidding me. My online account says my info doesn’t match.after I sign and and wait for code after code to do anything I have been to SS office , have tried 5 times online. I worked all these years for what, now it doesn’t say 3 month wait, it says four months, so I’ll lose my house and everything along with going back to work to try and survive. Yeah social security !?!?

  8. Mamadou S.

    hi
    I stared to fill out an application for benefits and was almost done and given this re- entry Number 88225528 but was unable to locate the application to complete and to send, It was almost done,
    please send me the form i couldnt finsish in order to complete it.

    Best regards,

    M, SYLLA

  9. carolyn b.

    How do I claim the $255 death benefit for my deceased brother who passed three weeks ago?

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Carolyn. We are sorry for your loss. The Lump-Sum Death benefit of $255 (a one-time payment) may be payable upon the death of a person who has worked long enough to be insured under Social Security. An application for the Lump-Sum death payment must be submitted within two years from the insured person’s death. Only eligible family members may be able to receive the one-time payment and monthly survivor benefits. For more information on this, please read our publication, How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies. We hope this helps.

  10. JULIUS Y.

    I cannot fill out the online application because it requires that I create or sign in to my Social Security account. The my Social Security account. asks for a United States address that I do not have, because I do not reside in the US. I reside in the Philippines.
    Please help me with this difficult problem. I have now the required three months before my birthday on July 1st to do the application.

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