How to Apply for Social Security

You have three options for most types of benefits

Andy Markowitz

Updated April 112025

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En español

Published October 102018

/ Updated April 112025

In this story

Retirement and family benefits • Survivor benefits • Social Security Disability Insurance • Supplemental Security Income •
Keep in mind

You can file for any type of Social Security benefit by phone at 800-772-1213 or in person at a local Social Security office. Appointments are required for office visits; call 800-772-1213 or contact your local office directly to book ahead.

There's a third option for retirement benefitsfamily benefits for spouses and childrenand Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): You can apply online using a My Social Security account. Howeveronline filing is not available for survivor benefits.

Here are some basic guidelines to apply for various benefits.

Retirement and family benefits

You’ll need to provide an array of personal and work informationincluding:

Your date and place of birth.
Marital history and number of children.
Start and stop dates for jobs held in the past two yearsincluding any net income from self-employment in the past two years.
Military serviceif applicable.
The routing number of the bank where you want Social Security to deposit your payment and the number and type of your account.

Join Our Fight to Protect Social Security

You’ve worked hard and paid into Social Security with every paycheck. But recentlywe've heard from thousands of Americans who want to know more about the future of Social Security. Here’s what you can do:

Tell Congress to strengthen Social Security customer service.
Find out how AARP is fighting to keep Social Security strong.
Learn more about what it’s like in Social Security offices around the country right now.
Get expert advice on Social Security benefits and answers to common questions.

Social Security provides a complete checklist of what you’ll need for your application.

When you can file: The minimum age to apply for retirement or spouse benefits is 62but monthly payments are higher if you wait longer.

Where to file: Onlineby phone or in person.

Survivor benefits

Social Security can pay survivor benefits to spouses former spouses children if they are minors or have a disabilityand in limited circumstancesparents of a deceased worker on that person’s earnings record. To applymake sure you have:

The Social Security number and death certificate of the person on whose record you are applying.
Your Social Security number and those of any dependent children.
Your birth certificate or an acceptable religious record of your birthsuch as a baptismal certificate.
Your marriage certificateand divorce papers if filing as a former spouse.
Tax records documenting your earnings.

When you can file: In most casesyou must be at least 60 to receive survivor benefits. But as with retirement and spousal benefitsthey increase if you wait.

Widows and widowers with a disability can qualify starting at age 50and those who are caring for children younger than 16 or with a disability have no age restriction. Eligibility can be affected if you have remarried.

Where to file: By phone or in person.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

For SSDIthe document requirements are considerably broaderand the application is lengthier. Along with the usual personal data such as birth certificate and employment and earnings recordsyou’ll need to provide extensive documentation of your medical history and treatment and file an Adult Disability Report.

The SSDI process also includes an interviewin person or on the phone. You’ll find detailed information in Social Security’s Adult Disability Starter Kit.

When you can file: SSDI recipients don't have any age restrictionsbut you must have done at least some work in which you acquired Social Security credits.

Where to file: Onlineby phone or in person.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI — a program administered but not funded by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that pays benefits to people in financial need who are 65 or olderblind or have a disability — has document requirements related to financial need as well as personal information. These may include:

Proof of citizenship or legal residency.
Proof of where you livesuch as a lease or utility bill with your name on it.
Financial records. including payroll slips and bank statements.
Details of assets you own, such as property and vehicles.

When you can file: SSI has no minimum age if you are applying on the basis of blindness or a qualifying disability. Absent thatyou must be at least 65.

Where to file: By phone or in person. An online option is available if you meet these criteria:

You are age 18 to 64 and 10 months.
You have never married.
You are also applying for SSDI.
You have not previously applied for SSI for yourself or for a child.

Social Security is rolling out a streamlined digital application for SSI that the agency says will eventually be available to all claimantsincluding those ages 65 and older. For nowolder applicants and those applying on behalf of a minor child should call Social Security to schedule an office appointment.

Keep in mind

Beginning April 142025the SSA will perform anti-fraud checks on applications filed by phone. Callers flagged for “fraud risk indicators” will have to confirm their identity in person at a Social Security office to complete their application. The SSA estimates that less than 0.2 percent of phone claims will be affected.
To apply for Social Security benefits of any kind while living abroadcontact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

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About the author

Andy Markowitz is an AARP senior writer and editor covering Social Security and retirement. He is a former editor of the Prague Post and Baltimore City Paper.

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