Filing & Enrollment
Applying for Social Security Retirement Benefits: A Step-by-Step Guide
Verified against SSA POMS as of September 6, 2026
The short answer
You can apply for Social Security retirement benefits online, by phone, or through a local Social Security office. You can apply up to 4 months before the month you want your benefits to begin.
When applying, you select the month you want benefits to start. Social Security pays benefits the following month, so a benefit beginning in May is paid in June.
How to Apply for Retirement Benefits
Social Security retirement benefits can be applied for:
- Online through Social Security's retirement application;
- By phone at 1-800-772-1213; or
- Through a local Social Security office.
The online application is the easiest option for many applicants and can be completed without visiting a Social Security office. A personal my Social Security account can also be used to check the status of an application after it has been submitted.
When to Apply for Benefits
A retirement application can be filed up to 4 months before the month benefits are intended to begin. For example, someone who wants benefits to begin in January can apply as early as September.
The month benefits begin is called the month of entitlement. Social Security benefits are paid one month behind, so a January benefit is paid in February.
GN 00204.007Information to Have Available When Applying
When applying for retirement benefits, be prepared to provide information about:
- * Date and place of birth and Social Security number;
- * Current and former spouses, including dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death;
- * Employment and earnings, including employers and earnings for the current and prior year;
- * Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit;
- * Other Social Security, Medicare, or SSI applications previously filed; and
- * The month you want your retirement benefits to begin.
Depending on the individual's circumstances, Social Security may request additional information or documentation.
Source: SSA Form SSA-1 — Information You Need to Apply for Retirement Benefits or Medicare
Choosing When Benefits Begin
Retirement benefits can begin as early as age 62, but claiming before full retirement age permanently reduces the monthly benefit.
Full retirement age depends on year of birth and is 67 for individuals born in 1960 or later. Delaying retirement benefits beyond FRA earns delayed retirement credits through age 70. For individuals born in 1943 or later, delayed retirement credits increase the benefit by 8% per year, or 2/3 of 1% for each month benefits are delayed.
Delayed retirement credits stop accruing at age 70, so there is no benefit increase for delaying retirement benefits beyond age 70.
RS 00201.001RS 00615.690Retroactive Retirement Benefits
If an individual applies for retirement benefits after reaching full retirement age, they may elect up to 6 months of retroactive benefits, but retroactive benefits cannot begin before the month they reached FRA.
Electing retroactive benefits can result in a lump-sum payment, but it also moves the benefit starting date backward. This can reduce the number of delayed retirement credits earned and therefore result in a lower ongoing monthly benefit than if the individual chose a later starting date.
GN 00204.030Frequently asked
When will I receive my first Social Security payment?
Social Security retirement benefits are paid the month after the month they are due. For example, if your benefits begin in May, your first payment will be made in June.
Should I wait to apply if I don't have all of the documents Social Security may need?
Social Security advises applicants not to delay filing because they are missing documents. You can provide missing information or documents after the application is submitted, and Social Security may be able to help obtain certain information.
Can I apply for Medicare without starting my Social Security retirement benefit?
You can enroll in Medicare without claiming Social Security retirement benefits. This allows someone to enroll in Medicare at 65, when appropriate, while continuing to delay Social Security retirement benefits to earn delayed retirement credits.
Can I change my mind after applying for retirement benefits?
Yes, in certain circumstances. You can withdraw your Social Security retirement application within 12 months of the date you became entitled to benefits, but you must repay the benefits paid on your record, including certain benefits paid to family members. A withdrawal is generally limited to one time.