Retirement

Social Security is Here When You’re Ready for Retirement

January 26, 2023 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 2, 2023

Two older men video chatting on a smartphoneWhen you think you’re ready to retire, we’re here to help you make an informed decision about when to apply for benefits. You should decide based on your individual and family circumstances.

Would it be better for you to start getting benefits early with a smaller monthly amount over a longer period? Or perhaps wait for a larger monthly payment over less time? The answer is personal and depends on several factors, such as your current and anticipated cash needs, health, and your family history on longevity. Most importantly, you should study your future financial needs and obligations, and estimate your future Social Security benefit.

The best and easiest way to estimate your future Social Security benefits is with a personal my Social Security account. You can create your free account on our website. Use your account to see how much you might receive each month based on the age at which you want to start receiving benefits.

We encourage you to weigh all the factors carefully before deciding when to begin receiving Social Security benefits. This decision affects the monthly benefit amount you will receive for the rest of your life and may affect benefits for your survivors.

Social Security’s Online Retirement Resources

Whether you’re ready to learn about, apply for, or manage your retirement benefits, our online resources make it easy for you to find the information you need. How easy? You can do it from your computer, tablet, and even smartphone!

On our website, you can:

  • Get our publications.
  • Estimate your benefits with one of our many calculators.
  • Find your Full Retirement Age.
  • Learn about benefits for a spouse and family members.
  • Apply for benefits.
  • Manage your benefits once you start receiving them.

You and your loved ones can discover all these resources on our Retirement page.

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About the Author

Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications

Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications

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Comments

  1. E L.

    I have completed the online application and I at the final step to review and sign. My only options are previous or save and exit. Wher is the option to submit or file?

    • A.C.

      Hi. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  2. Paul R.

    I was born June 1953. My wife was born December 1955. In April 2021 she claimed SS benefits and I filed a restricted application and have been collecting spousal benefits since then.
    Do I need to refile for my own benefits this June when I turn 70 or will SSA automatically switch me to my own benefits?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Paul. Thanks for visiting our blog. Since you are already receiving benefits, please contact your local Social Security office for assistance. Thanks, again. 

  3. Elaine

    Is SSI the same benefit as Retirement benefits?
    Do I need to apply for both?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Elaine. Thanks for your questions. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based disability program that pays benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children may also get SSI. For more information, please visit our Supplemental Security Income webpage. As far as retirement benefits, you can apply for Social Security retirement benefits when you are at least 61 years and 9 months of age. Our system is set up to take applications three months in advance.When you are ready you can complete the online application for Social Security retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. We hope this helps. 

      • Elaine

        Thank you! Your answer was very helpful.

        • Mary L.

          Yes, thank you! This information helped me, too!

  4. Brian

    I reached full retirement age in Dec 2022. I started a mySocialSecurity online application for SS benefits on Mar 14 2023 (my “protective filing date”). I am probably going to request that SS benefits begin in Feb 2023. I am still working for a large employer with creditable health insurance and prescription drug coverage, so I don’t need Medicare Parts B or D yet. I know I will be retroactively signed up for Medicare Part A when I apply for SS benefits. My question is: when will my Medicare Part A enrollment start?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Brian. Thanks for visiting out blog Generally, your Medicare Part A will be effective the first of the month after the plan receives your request. For specific questions, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

      • Brian

        Hi Ann. Thanks for your reply. I thought I had read something about Medicare Part A enrollment being automatically triggered by a SS benefits claim, and retroactive 6 months prior to the SS claim, for people over 65yr+6mo. Is that not correct?

  5. Kira F.

    I created a “my social security” account August 2021 to find out what benefits. I wrote down the password
    Two months later, I could not get into my account. It would not accept my password.
    I went to the SS office 3 times. Two of the times I was told it should be cleared up and given new activation codes. They did not work and I still could could not get into my account The 3rd appointment , the SS technician even tried to access my account as me after I given her authorization that did not work. She was bewildered too.
    She referred me to and specialist IT technician.
    After calling and scheduling appoint time twice he was too busy and I had to call a 3rd time, He said he would give me his undivided time and would help me get into my account. He was not able to get me in to my social security account. He said he has never had this happen before. He needed to get with the regional office and he would get back to me.
    That was February 22, 2023. He has not yet gotten back to me.
    I have called 3 times. No answer so I left voicemails to contact. me even if he did not have the answer yet .
    I have has this problem for 6 months
    I need help

    • A.C.

      Hi, Kira. Thanks for visiting our blog. We are sorry to hear about your experience. We encourage you to continue to work with your local office. You can ask to speak to a manager on your next call or visit. You can also submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.

  6. Steve

    Is social security spouse benefits for a surviving spouse or can a living spouse get those benefits.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Steve. Thanks for your question. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your spouse must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Keep in mind that if you qualify for your own benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. For more information, please visit our Benefits Planner. We hope this helps. 

  7. Ven

    Hello, what is the average length of waiting time after applying for SS retirement benefits until you receive them? I applied in December 2022.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Ven. Application processing time can vary. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  8. Sharon R.

    Can I collect SS from my husband vs. mine if I am collecting a pension from the state of Ohio?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Sharon. Thanks for visiting our blog. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your spouse must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Keep in mind that if you qualify for your own benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Please visit our Benefits Planner for more information. As far as your pension, if your pension is based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies, such as police officers and some teachers), it may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefit can be reduced based on one of two provisions: The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. To learn more, please visit here. We hope this helps. 

  9. DAVID R.

    Will I be denied my SS retirement benefits if I have a pension, and 401k savings?

    • A.C.

      Hi, David. Thank you for your question. A pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies, such as police officers and some teachers) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefit can be reduced based on one of two provisions: The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. To learn more, please visit here. As far as your 401k, generally speaking, only gross wages you earn from work counts towards the allowable work limits. To learn more about the work limits, visit our Receiving Benefits While Working page. We hope this helps. 

  10. Dwight C.

    I am a U.S. citizen but I live outside of the U.S. Is there a way I can set up a MySocialSecurity account. I do not have a U.S. address
    Thank you

    • Wesley M.

      Contact your embasy in the country you live in ! They can help you . I live in sweden and have my ss , norways embasy helped me

    • A.C.

      Hi, Dwight. We’re sorry for any inconvenience. Since you are living outside of the U.S., please contact your local  Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.

      • Cric

        Hey, I am Cric. Can you please explain how can I find and contact Federal Benefits Unit?

        • A.C.

          Hi, Cric. Thanks for visiting our blog. If you are living outside of the U.S., please contact your local  Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.

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