What to Do Before You Apply for Social Security Retirement Benefits

Start with your Social Security account online

Before you contact Social Security or fill out any forms, create or log into your account at ssa.gov. This is where you can see your earnings record — the actual wages Social Security has on file for you — and get an estimate of what your monthly payment will be at different ages. You need this information to decide when to claim.

Your earnings record is the foundation of your benefit amount. If you've worked under different names, in different states, or had gaps in employment, Social Security may have incomplete or incorrect information. Finding errors now, before you claim, takes weeks to fix. Finding them after you've started receiving benefits takes months and can mean overpayments you'll have to repay.

When you log in, you'll see a statement showing your estimated benefit at age 62, your full retirement age (which depends on your birth year), and age 70. These numbers are based on your current earnings record and assume you keep working until that age. The statement also shows how much you'd receive if you became disabled or if your family members became may have access to to benefits on your record.

Key Takeaways

• Check your earnings record on ssa.gov before you claim to catch errors that could lower your benefit by hundreds of dollars per month.
• Your full retirement age — when you get 100 percent of your benefit — depends on your birth year and ranges from 66 to 67.
• Claiming at 62 gives you money sooner but permanently reduces your monthly payment; waiting until 70 increases it by about 8 percent per year.
• Gather your birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and tax records before you contact Social Security, so you don't have to make multiple trips or calls.
• If you're still working, understand how earnings affect your benefit before you claim, especially if you claim before your full retirement age.

Verify your earnings record is correct

Social Security uses your 35 highest-earning years to calculate your benefit. If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings on record, they count the missing years as zero, which lowers your payment. If your record shows lower earnings than you actually made — because of a name change, a missing W-2, or a data entry error — your benefit will be too low.

Look at each year on your statement. If you see a year where you know you earned more than what's shown, or a year that's missing entirely, you can request a correction. You'll need your tax return or W-2 from that year. Social Security has a three-year window to correct errors, so don't wait until you've already claimed.

If you were self-employed, check that your Schedule C income is recorded correctly. If you worked for a railroad, make sure those years appear — railroad employment is handled differently and sometimes doesn't show up in the regular Social Security record.

Understand how your age affects your payment

Your full retirement age is when Social Security considers you old enough to receive your full benefit amount. This age is not 65 — it depends on your birth year. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born in 1960 or later, it's 67. If you were born between those years, it falls somewhere in between.

You can claim as early as 62, but your payment will be permanently reduced — roughly 30 percent lower if you claim at 62 instead of 66, or 35 percent lower if you claim at 62 instead of 67. You can also wait until 70, and your payment will increase by about 8 percent for each year you delay past your full retirement age. This increase stops at 70, so there's no financial benefit to waiting longer.

The choice between claiming early, at full retirement age, or at 70 depends on your health, how long you expect to live, whether you're still working, and whether you need the money now. There's no single "right" answer, but the math is straightforward: if you live into your mid-80s, waiting to claim usually results in more total money over your lifetime. If you don't, claiming earlier does.

Know the earnings limit if you claim before full retirement age

If you claim Social Security before you reach your full retirement age and you're still working, Social Security will reduce your benefit based on how much you earn. For 2024, if you earn more than $23,400 per year, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above that limit. The limit changes each year.

This earnings limit applies only until you reach your full retirement age. Once you hit that age, you can earn as much as you want with no reduction to your benefit. The month you reach full retirement age, the limit no longer applies — even if you haven't reached your birthday yet.

If you're self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit from self-employment, not your gross revenue. If you own a business and plan to claim before full retirement age, talk to a tax professional about how your business income will affect your benefit.

Gather the documents you'll need

Social Security will ask for proof of your identity, age, and citizenship or legal residency status. Have these documents ready before you contact them, either to apply in person or by phone. You'll need an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID), and proof of citizenship or legal residency.

If you were born outside the United States, you'll need your passport, naturalization papers, or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you've been married, divorced, or widowed, bring those documents too — Social Security needs to know your complete marital history because it affects whether your family members can receive benefits on your record.

If you have a representative helping you with your claim — a family member, attorney, or advocate — Social Security will need a signed form authorizing that person to act on your behalf. You can complete this form online or in person.

Decide whether to claim online, by phone, or in person

You can start your claim three months before the month you want your benefits to begin. Social Security offers three ways to claim: online at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting your local Social Security office in person.

The online process is usually fastest — you can complete it in one sitting and Social Security will contact you if they need additional information. The phone line has wait times that vary by time of day and season; calling early in the week and early in the day usually means shorter waits. In-person appointments at your local office require scheduling ahead, but you can bring documents with you and resolve questions on the spot.

Whichever method you choose, have your Social Security number, birth date, and earnings record information in front of you. The process takes 15 to 30 minutes if you have all your information ready.

Plan for taxes on your benefits

Social Security retirement benefits are taxable income in some situations. If you have other income — from a job, a pension, investments, or withdrawals from retirement accounts — part of your Social Security benefit may be subject to federal income tax. Some states also tax Social Security benefits.

The amount that's taxable depends on your "combined income," which includes your adjusted gross income, tax-exempt interest, and half of your Social Security benefits. If your combined income exceeds certain thresholds (which vary based on your filing status), up to 50 percent or 85 percent of your benefits become taxable.

Before you claim, talk to a tax professional or use the Social Security tax estimator at ssa.gov to understand how your specific situation will be taxed. If you expect to owe taxes on your benefits, you can have Social Security withhold taxes from your monthly payment so you don't face a large bill at tax time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my mind after I start receiving benefits?

Yes, but only within limits. If you've been receiving benefits for less than 12 months, you can withdraw your claim, repay what you've received, and reapply later at a higher amount. After 12 months, you can suspend your benefits at your full retirement age or later, which allows your payment to grow, but you cannot undo the claim entirely.

What happens to my benefits if I'm still working when I claim?

If you claim before your full retirement age and earn more than the annual limit, Social Security reduces your benefit that year. Once you reach full retirement age, your earnings don't affect your benefit anymore, even if you're still working. Any benefits withheld due to earnings are not lost — Social Security recalculates your payment at full retirement age to account for the months you didn't receive benefits.

Do I need to report my income to Social Security after I start receiving benefits?

If you claim before full retirement age and are still working, you must report your earnings to Social Security. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail. Social Security will use your reported earnings to adjust your benefit for that year. If you reach full retirement age during the year, you only need to report earnings for the months before you reach that age.

What if I worked outside the United States?

Work you did outside the United States may count toward your Social Security benefit if you paid Social Security taxes on those earnings. If you paid taxes to another country's social security system instead, you may be may have access to to benefits from that country. Some countries have agreements with the United States that allow work in both countries to count toward benefits. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific work history.

Can I claim benefits for my spouse or children?

Your spouse, ex-spouse, and children may be may have access to to benefits based on your earnings record. Your spouse can claim at 62 (with a reduced benefit) or at their full retirement age. Unmarried children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school) may also receive benefits. Contact Social Security to learn whether your family members may have access to and how much they might receive.