Easy Methods To Apply For Social Security Benefits

Before you apply for Social Security benefits, you should review the Social Security site to figure out what types of benefits are offered and which you might qualify for.

Social Security was primarily created to impart retirement benefits to workers, but the program is continuing to grow tremendously and now Social Security provides disability options, death benefits as well as other family benefits over and above retirement benefits.

To determine what Social Security benefits you may qualify for, Social Security offers the BEST screening tool. With this tool you can determine whether you qualify for Medicare, Social Security incapacitation, Social Security retirement, survivor benefits, special veterans benefits, or supplemental security income (SSI). Be ready to answer questions such as your date of birth, the amount of money you have earned during your employment and other information about your personal finances. This information is necessary to determine which benefits (if any) you may be qualified to receive.

Once you've determined what benefits you may are eligible for, how can you apply for Social Security benefits?

The Social Security administration provides several ways to apply for Social Security. You can apply online at ssa.gov, by visiting your local Social Security office, or by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.

The online Social Security application may be used to apply for retirement or spousal benefits, or to apply for Medicare. To apply for retirement benefits you should be at the least 61 years and 9 months old. You must also look forward to starting your benefits in the next four months. Finally you need to live in the United States (or territories) to make use of the online application. If you are close to age 65, you will apply for Medicare at the same time that you submit an application for Social Security retirement benefits.

When applying for benefits, you could be asked many questions regarding your age, your work history and other personal finance data. You should have the following documents available before you start the online application:

- Your birth certificate

- Your citizenship or the naturalization papers (if applicable)

- your military service papers (if applicable)

- your W-2 forms or self employment tax return for the last tax year.

Additionally, you should be prepared to supply the following information:

- your birth-date with place of birth

- your Social Security number

- your bank account and routing number (if you are requesting direct deposit for your benefits)

- the amount of money you earned the last two years, including your employer's name and address

- information about your military service

- details about your current and any former spouses, such as name, Social Security number and date of birth (or age in case you don't know the birth-date)

- your earnings history from your most recent Social Security statement

If you are applying for Social Security retirement benefits, you should carefully decide the right time to apply. While you can collect Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, that may not be the best time to apply. Your benefits varies considerably based on when you apply, or your decision on when to apply could impact your family.

If you want to know how much you can expect to receive from Social Security, but you are not ready to apply for benefits now, the Social Security website offers several calculators to help you estimate your retirement benefit.

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