Social Security Retirement - Social Security Programs

First, find out if you are eligible for Social Security benefits

To help identify all the different Social Security programs for which you may be eligible, use our Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST).

You can apply

* Online - using our Social Security Retirement Benefit Application,
* By phone - call us at 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call us at TTY 1-800-325-0778, or
* In person - visit your local Social Security office. (Call first to make an appointment.)

Note: You should apply for benefits about three months before the date you want your benefits to start. If you are not getting Social Security and you are not ready to retire, you should still sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday.

When you apply

Please be ready to supply the information we need to approve your application for these benefits:

* Retirement or Medicare
* Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's
* Child's

We may ask you to provide certain documents to show that you are eligible and help us decide how much your benefits should be. If you do not have a birth certificate, you may request one from the state where you were born. For details on where to write in your state, check Where to Write for Vital Records.

Also, bring along your bank information so you can sign up for Direct Deposit. If you do not have a bank account you can sign up for the Direct Express® card program. With Direct Express®, deposits from federal payments are made directly to the card.