Retire Online with Social Security, Quickly and Easily
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
The idea of applying for Social Security retirement benefits might seem daunting, but it’s not. There’s no need to visit an office. You don’t have to use the phone. We have an online retirement application that you can complete in as little as 15 minutes and from the comfort of your home or office. In most cases, once your application is submitted electronically, you’re done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if any further information is needed.
It’s as simple as that. You can start your application.
You can apply online for retirement benefits or benefits as a spouse if you:
- Are at least 61 years and 9 months old.
- Are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record.
- Have not already applied for retirement benefits.
- 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.)
You’ll have to create or sign into your my Social Security account as part of your application. If you don’t have an account yet, this is a perfect time to create one. Just as important, this is where you will be able to check your application for benefits. Like our other online services, my Social Security is available on your time and there’s no waiting in line or on the phone. You can see your entire work history going back to your first job to make sure we have all of your wages correctly tallied. Create or sign into your my Social Security account.
Are you curious about how much your retirement benefits will be? You can get an idea of what your benefits will be using our Retirement Estimator.
Social Security provides services for millions of people, but we also want to make your experience with us as simple and easy as possible. Our many online services, including retiring online, are part of that mission. You can access more by visiting our online services website.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account, online services, retirement
See CommentsAbout the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Toni
What if I have medical insurance already and don’t want to pay for Medicare benefits? Also, do I apply at this site for Medicaid?
V.V.
Hi Toni. Generally, individuals receiving Social Security benefits are automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.
If you are at least 64 years and 9 months old and aren’t receiving Social Security benefits, you can apply for Medicare online.
If you do not want Medicare Part A or B because you are actively employed and have coverage from an employer group health plan through that active employment, you do not need to do anything. Once you lose that health insurance or are no longer actively employed, whichever comes first, you can enroll in Medicare Part A and B during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
We always suggest that individuals speak to their personnel office, health benefits advisor, or health plan representative to see what’s best for them, and to prevent any penalties or delayed enrollment in the future.
Lillian L.
My husband will be turning 65 yrs in June 2019. He is trying to file for benefits as he has stopped working. It is so difficult to call and make apt to see someone in SSI office. Therefore I volunteered to file online for him. I am stuck as the country he was born (Malaysia) is not on the drop down box. Therefore I am not able to continue filling the information for him. Pls help and tell me what to do?
Second question is I am still working and my work covers his medical. Therefore he does not need to pay for Medicare Part A yet. Am I right. How do I let SSI office knows that because I don’t want to miss anything as in 4 years when I retired, both of us would have to go Medicare Part A. Please advise. Tks.
Jean R.
Greetings,
I applied for benefits online on May 2018, and I was contacted for additional documents on Dec 2018. At this time I have not heard anything about my card like case. I was found 100% disabled by DoD and 100% disabled by VA. I submitted all pertinent documents for an illness that started on Aug 2017. The Social Security Administration is proudly publishing in their website how wounded warriors receive expedite service, but my case reflects otherwise. Even when I call I talk to Representatives those reps make the commend that the expedition on wounded warriors cases is not true.
Please help!!!
Dr. R.
If I am already receiving Social Security, but went back to
work after a few years, and as of this past June, 1918,
will Social Security note my change in earnings and
adjust my payments accordingly without my notification?
What time frame will it take to establish my new
Social Security monthly payment?
Thank you,
Dr. Roberta M. Contii
sultana
my date of birth i s 3-1-1953.what is my full retirement date to receive my social security benefits March ist ? or April ist
V.V.
Hi Sultana. If your birthday is on the 1st of the month, we figure your benefit as if your birthday were in the previous month. Therefore, you are full retirement age in February. See the full retirement age chart for details.
Rachael
is St. Lucia, WI an “acceptable country” to receive SS funds? It looks as if I am reading it correctly that only Cuba and North Korea are the 2 countries you cannot live to collect SS funds, correct?
V.V.
Hi Rachael, thank you for using our blog. Our publication, “Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States”, explains how being outside the United States may affect your Social Security payments.
If you are a U.S. citizen, you may continue to receive payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible for payment and you are in a country where we can send payments. If you aren’t a U.S. citizen, you must meet one of the conditions for payment described in this publication.
You may use our Payments Abroad Screening Tool to see if your benefits will continue indefinitely, stop after six consecutive months or if certain country specific restrictions apply.
Glen
To make a “My Account” with social security it is asking for a mailing address and a phone number. We have a US mailing address, but our phone number is for another country…will it accept an international phone number?
If you live outside the US and want to file online, are you able to do so? If yes, how do you get the “necessary documents” to SS if you are living outside the US?
V.V.
Hi Glen, thank you for your questions. We use a second method of authentication to check the identification of my Social Security account holders when they register or sign in. This is in addition to the first layer of security, a username and password. You can choose either a cell phone or your email address as your second identification method. Using two ways to identify you when you log on helps us to better protect your account from unauthorized use and potential identity fraud.
We recommend that individuals living outside the country visit our Office of International Operations home page, which provides additional information for our customers living abroad including how to file for benefits.
Kathleen B.
I will be 65 in Feb.I am still employed and do not plan on retiring @ 66.
Thru my employer I have an HSA account so they said that would discontinue if I signed up.
Even if I don’t plan on retiring at this time do I still need to sign up for Medicare Part B?
V.V.
Hi Kathleen, thank you for your question. If you do not want Medicare Part A or B because you are actively employed and have coverage from an employer group health plan through that active employment, you do not need to do anything. Once you lose that health insurance or are no longer actively employed, whichever comes first, you can enroll in Medicare Part A and B during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
We always suggest that individuals speak to their personnel office, health benefits advisor, or health plan representative to see what’s best for them, and to prevent any penalties or delayed enrollment in the future.
Kathleen E.
In our case, my husband & I are both currently on my employer’s HSA plan. Husband turns 66 in August & plans to file for SS but not Medicare. I will retire in June next year & plan to file for SS the following month. We will both apply for Medicare then. We’re told that Medicare will retro benefits back 6 months, but from what date – the Medicare application date, the Medicare approval date, the first SS benefit payment date, or some other date?
Louis M.
My birthday is Feb 24. Ill be 66 i want to file for retirement benefits but when i sign in i keep messing up on my password and now they are sending me a letter with my password in 5 to 10 days. What is the latest i can file online? Or can I call on the phone? And get helped. Im terrible about online stuff. I only have i smart phone , no computer. Can you help me?
A.C.
Hi, Louis. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We offer a few different ways to reset your password. For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday to have one of our representatives schedule an appointment for you with your local office if you prefer. We hope this helps.
Karen c.
Karen cook stop and block account takeover fraud stop account takeover fraud identity theft and scammer and spam and hackers and cyber criminals 010101010101 my social security account and social security number theft stolen fraud and mobile phone syware governmental 2012to 2018 report fraud waste abuse stop account takeover protect social security number benefits payment and personal information mobile phone social media accounts retirement endpoint global endpoint Jan/20/2019