How to Apply for Social Security, Step by Step

Applying for Social Security retirement benefits is simpler than most people expect. Here is what to do, in order, from choosing your start month to seeing your first payment.

Rosa turned 66 last fall. She planned to stop working in June and wanted her first Social Security payment in July, when her last paycheck would run out.

She assumed she should apply in June. A friend told her to wait until she had every document in a folder. Both were wrong.

Social Security pays benefits the month after they are due. To get her first payment in July, Rosa had to choose June as her start month, and she could apply as early as February. She applied online in March, in one evening, and her first payment arrived on schedule.

Key takeaways

You can apply up to four months before the month you want benefits to start, and the first payment arrives the month after that month.
Most people can apply online at ssa.gov with a my Social Security account, and phone and in-person applications are still available.
Have your Social Security number, proof of age, last year’s W-2 or tax return and your bank account details ready before you start.
Social Security will never call to rush your application or ask for gift cards, so check your status only through ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213.

Before you start: pick your start month

The biggest decision is not how to apply but when your benefits should start. You can start any month from age 62 to 70. Each month you wait raises your monthly payment, up to age 70.

If you have not decided yet, start with Social Security at 62, 67 or 70 and try the claiming-age calculator on our Social Security hub. Our free My Retirement Dates tool shows the exact months you turn 62, reach full retirement age and turn 70.

Once you know the month, the timing works like this:

You want your first payment in	Choose this start month	Apply as early as
July	June	February
January	December	August
The month after you turn 70	The month you turn 70	Four months earlier

Two details trip people up. At 62, you must be 62 for the whole month, so for most people the earliest start month is the month after their 62nd birthday. And if you are already past full retirement age, you can ask for up to six months of back payments, but never for months before full retirement age, and taking them means giving up the extra credits for those months.

Step 1: Check your earnings record

Your benefit is based on your 35 highest years of earnings. A missing year can lower your check for life, and it is much easier to fix before you apply.

Sign in to my Social Security, open your Social Security Statement and compare each year with your W-2s or tax returns. Our guide to checking and correcting your earnings record shows what to do if a year is wrong.

Step 2: Create your my Social Security account

A personal my Social Security account lets you apply online, check your application, see your payment dates and change your bank details later. You sign in through one of two partner services:

Login.gov: the option Social Security suggests for most people in the United States. You need an email address, a government-issued photo ID and a phone number.
ID.me: works inside or outside the United States. You need an email address, a government-issued photo ID and a device with a camera.

If you already have a Login.gov or ID.me account from another agency, use it. Setting up the account and verifying your identity can take some time, so do it a few weeks before you plan to apply.

Step 3: Gather your documents

Social Security asks for different papers depending on your situation. Have these ready:

Your Social Security number.
Your birth certificate or other proof of age. If Social Security needs to see it, it must be the original or a copy certified by the office that issued it. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.
Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful status if you were not born in the United States.
Your W-2 forms or self-employment tax return for last year. A photocopy is fine.
Your U.S. military discharge papers if you served before 1968. A photocopy is fine.
Names and dates of current and past marriages, and the names of employers for this year and last year.
Your bank’s routing number and your account number for direct deposit.

Do not wait for a missing document. Social Security says to apply anyway: you can send papers later, and your local office can often get a birth record from your state for you. Social Security returns any original documents you send.

Step 4: Choose how to apply

Way to apply	Best for	What to know
Online at ssa.gov/apply	Most people, especially if you have a my Social Security account	You can save your application and return to it later.
By phone, 1-800-772-1213	People who cannot or prefer not to apply online	Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in most U.S. time zones, in English, Spanish and other languages. TTY: 1-800-325-0778.
At a local Social Security office	Complicated situations or help in person	Make an appointment first at ssa.gov or by phone to avoid a long wait.

Phone applications get an automatic fraud check. If something looks unusual, Social Security will ask you to prove who you are in person before it finishes your claim.

Step 5: Fill out the application

The application asks about your work, your marriages, your start month and where to send the money. A few questions deserve extra thought:

Start month. Enter the month you chose above, not the month you want the first payment.
Medicare. If you are 65 or close to it, the same application lets you sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B. If you are still covered by a job, read when to sign up for Medicare before you decide about Part B.
Direct deposit. Since September 30, 2025, Social Security pays almost everyone electronically, by direct deposit or a Direct Express debit card. Paper checks are only for people with no other option.
Your spouse. Your spouse files a separate application for spousal benefits. See Social Security for spouses and ex-spouses.

If you are still working, you can apply anyway. Before full retirement age, an earnings limit may hold back some payments. Our guide to claiming while you keep working explains how it works.

Step 6: Track your application and read your letter

Check your status online in my Social Security, or call 1-800-772-1213 and say “application status” when the automated system asks how it can help. That line works 24 hours a day.

When your claim is approved, you get a letter that shows your monthly amount, your start month and any Medicare premium taken out. Keep it. Banks and lenders often ask for it, and you can download a copy later from your account.

Social Security can also hold back federal income tax if you ask. Up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable, depending on your other income. See how Social Security benefits are taxed.

Step 7: Know when the money arrives

Your payment day depends on your birthday:

Your birthday falls on the	You are paid on the
1st to 10th	Second Wednesday of the month
11th to 20th	Third Wednesday of the month
21st to 31st	Fourth Wednesday of the month

People who started benefits before May 1997, or who also get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are paid on the 3rd of the month. If a payment day falls on a holiday, the money arrives the business day before.

If you change your mind

You have two ways out if your plans change:

Withdraw your application within 12 months of approval, once in your lifetime. You must repay everything you and your family received, including Medicare premiums and taxes that were withheld.
Pause your benefit once you reach full retirement age. Your future payments grow by up to 8% a year, plus cost-of-living increases, and restart automatically at 70. Family members who get benefits on your record lose theirs during the pause.

Watch for scams while you apply

Scammers know when people are applying. Social Security will not call to say your number is suspended, threaten arrest, or ask for gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency. If someone calls about your claim, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213 yourself. Our guide to avoiding retirement scams covers the other warning signs.

Frequently asked questions

How early can I apply?

Up to four months before the month you want benefits to start. If you want benefits to start at 62, that means you can apply when you are about 61 and 9 months old.

Can I apply for Social Security and Medicare at the same time?

Yes. If you are 65 or within a few months of it, the retirement application includes Medicare Part A and Part B. If you already get Social Security before 65, you are enrolled in Medicare automatically and your card arrives about three months before your birthday.

How long does approval take?

It varies with your situation and how busy your local office is. That is why applying three or four months ahead is a good idea. You can see where your claim stands, and when Social Security expects to decide, in your my Social Security account.

Do I need an appointment?

Not to apply online. For phone or in-person help, an appointment usually saves a long wait. You can make one at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

What if I made a mistake on my application?

Call 1-800-772-1213 or contact your local office as soon as you notice. Social Security can correct details like your start month or bank account before your claim is decided.

Educational note: This article is general education, not financial, tax or legal advice. Social Security rules and procedures change, so confirm the details at ssa.gov before you apply. Rosa is an illustrative example. For help with your claiming decision, talk with Social Security directly or a fee-only financial planner.