Our website will walk you through the online retirement application process. We will tell you what information you will need to answer the questions on the application. Further, we will describe the documents you may need to present once you have submitted your application.
Before you start your application, we recommend you get an estimate of your retirement benefit. This too, you can do on the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. The retirement estimator uses your personal employment history to estimate your retirement benefit. It also will help you to answer some of the questions on the retirement application.
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• Are at least 61 years and 9 months old
• Want to start your benefits in the next four months
• Live in the United States.
You will want to be fully informed of your options and their consequences before applying. The website will tell you everything you need to know about the Social Security “basics” so you’ll be ready to retire when you apply online.
Before filing online for retirement, we suggest you have the following information on hand:
• Your date and place of birth and Social Security number
• Your bank or financial institution’s routing transit number and the account number, for direct deposit of your benefits
• The amount of money earned last year and this year. If you are filing for benefits in the months of September through December, you also will need to estimate next year’s earnings.
• The name and address of your employer(s) for this year and last year
• The beginning and ending dates of any active U.S. military service you had before 1968
• The name, Social Security number and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse. You also should know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if appropriate)
• A copy of your Social Security statement.
Even if you don’t have all the information we need, you should go ahead and apply. We will contact you later if we need additional documentation.
Applying online means there is no need for you to go to a Social Security office or wait for a scheduled appointment with a Social Security representative. Besides, retiring online is so easy. You can apply in as little as 15 minutes.
So if you want to start the new year off as a retiree, or plan to start collecting benefits early in the new year, now’s the time to take action.
Apply online today at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.
Social Security Q&A
Q. How much can I earn and still get Social Security retirement benefits?
A. Starting with the month you reach your full retirement age, you will get your full benefits with no limit on your earnings. These are the formulas Social Security uses to determine how much your benefit may be reduced:
• If you are under your full retirement age: when you start getting your Social Security payments, $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2009, that limit is $14,160. The earliest age you can receive Social Security retirement benefits remains 62, even though the full retirement age is rising.
• In the year you reach your full retirement age: $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $3 you earn above a different limit, but only counting earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. For 2009, this limit is $37,680.
Keep in mind that although your benefits may be reduced due to earnings, you may receive a higher benefit later. After you reach full retirement age, Social Security will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for any months in which you did not receive a benefit because of your earnings. In addition, as long as you continue to work and receive benefits, Social Security will check your record every year to see whether the additional earnings will increase your monthly benefit.
Contact Jim Pavletich, public information officer for the Social Security Administration in Phoenix, at James.pavletich@ssa.gov or 1-866-331-4359 ext. 12876.
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