Social Security Application Made Simple: Key Steps to Follow

Over 2.5 million people in the United States receive Social Security benefits, and more become eligible each year. If you are eligible for benefits, here’s what you need to know to apply.

Documents You Need

Before beginning your application, gather the documents you’ll need to share with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The information you’ll need depends on the type of benefits for which you’re applying.

Social Security Retirement Benefits

Retirement benefits are the most well-known type of Social Security benefits. These are monthly payments based on your work history. In general, you must have worked at least 10 years to collect retirement benefits. You can start collecting them as early as age 62, but you can wait as late as age 70 to receive a larger monthly benefit.

To apply for Social Security retirement benefits, you’ll need to provide:

• Your Social Security number
• The city, state, and country where you were born
• A verified record of your Social Security earnings (which can be done through your Social Security account)
• The names of any employers you have had in the past five years, along with employment dates, average hours worked, and pay rates
• The name, Social Security number, and birthdate of any current and former spouse or spouses
• The dates of any marriages and divorces
• The city, state, and country where any marriages took place
• Your bank account and bank routing numbers for direct deposit

Social Security Disability Insurance

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a benefit paid to those with disabilities that limit their ability to work or prevent them from working. In order to receive benefits, SSDI recipients must have worked at least five of the past ten years, though those under age 24 can have worked less.

To apply for SSDI, you will need to provide all the information required for retirement benefits, as well as information about your disability or medical condition, including:

• The names and contact information of your doctors
• The names and contact information of clinics or hospitals where you have been treated
• Information about medical tests you have received
• A list of medications you take
• The date of injury and claim number for any workers’ compensation claims
• Permission for the SSA to access your medical records

Social Security Survivor Benefits

“A survivor benefit allows the family of someone who was receiving Social Security to continue receiving a portion of those benefits under certain circumstances,” says Melissa Joy, a certified financial planner and president of Pearl Planning financial advisors. “This can provide additional financial support to the family of a deceased person who has contributed to the Social Security system.”

Family members eligible for survivor benefits include spouses, ex-spouses, children, and dependent parents. The documents you will need to apply for survivor benefits are the same as those to apply for retirement benefits:

• Your Social Security number
• The city, state, and country of your birth
• A verified record of your Social Security earnings
• The names of any employers you have had in the past five years, along with employment dates, average hours worked, and pay rates
• The name, Social Security number, and birthdate of any current and former spouse or spouses
• The dates of any marriages and divorces
• The city, state, and country where your marriage(s) took place
• Your bank account and bank routing numbers for direct deposit
• The names of children who are under age 18, ages 18–19, and in K–12 school full-time, or any age with a disability that developed before age 22

Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides monthly payments to those with disabilities or to adults age 65 or older who have little income and few other financial resources. Monthly payments depend on several factors, including your living situation and other income. If you receive SSI, you must report your income and any changes to your resources or living arrangements each month.

To apply for SSI, you must provide the same information you would use to apply for disability benefits. You will also need to provide:

• Proof of current income: Wages, bonuses, dividends, interest income, alimony, gambling winnings, child support, disability payments, insurance payments, or workers’ compensation payments
• Proof of other financial resources: Bank accounts, car titles or loans, trust funds, life insurance policies, cash, or investment accounts
• Information about your home: Names and ages of those you live with, rental contracts, name and phone number of your landlord, admission agreements, or hospital admission/discharge papers

How to Apply for Social Security Online

Once you’ve gathered the information you will need, you can apply for your Social Security benefits online. To start an application, you will need to open a free my Social Security account. You will complete and submit your application through this account.

When you are logged into your account, select “Apply.” This will take you to the application. Each page of the application will have instructions for what information needs to be entered. In some cases, you may need to upload supporting documentation.

Your application for benefits doesn’t need to be completed all at once. If you need a break or need more time, you can save your application and return to your account when you are ready to continue. Under the “Apply” menu, select “Return to a saved application” to continue. If you need help or support while you are completing your online application, you can contact the SSA by phone.

When you have finished and checked your application, select “Submit.” After you’ve submitted, you can check the status of your application through your account.

How to Apply for Social Security in Person

You can also apply for Social Security benefits in person at your local Social Security office, although this may take longer than applying online. Use the Social Security website to find the nearest office. You will need to call and make an appointment to visit.

At your appointment, the representative you meet with will walk you through the Social Security application and help you complete it. You will need to provide the same information that you would provide in an online application.

Social Security Application Timeline

How long it takes to approve your Social Security application will depend on a number of factors. If the SSA needs more information, you will be contacted by a representative, who will tell you what they need and how to submit it.

If your application for benefits isn’t approved, you have the option to appeal, starting with a request for reconsideration, which can be submitted online. If that isn’t approved, you can escalate your appeal by requesting a:

1. Hearing with a judge
2. Review of the hearing decision
3. Federal court district action

At any point in this process, your application may be approved.

Once your application is approved, you will begin receiving monthly Social Security benefits. Your first payment will arrive the month after the start date you selected in your application.

Pitfalls When Applying for Social Security

As you apply for Social Security benefits, a few pitfalls can cause your application to be rejected. The main reason is often eligibility: if you don’t meet all the eligibility requirements, including age limits, your Social Security application won’t be approved. Your application can also be rejected if you provide false, misleading, incorrect, or incomplete information.

When it comes to retirement benefits, a common reason your application might be rejected is having insufficient work credits, says Jamie Kertis, CPFA, a financial advisor and retirement plan specialist with EverThrive Financial Group.

“It is relatively uncommon for people in the U.S. to be completely ineligible for Social Security, especially among those who have worked and paid into the system throughout their lives,” Kertis says. “However, according to the Social Security Administration, about one in four workers may not qualify for retirement benefits if they do not accumulate enough credits.”

Social Security retirement benefits require 40 credits, generally equal to 10 years of work. Kertis also warns that you may have your application rejected if you worked sufficient hours but failed to pay Social Security taxes on your earnings.

If you are nearing or have reached early retirement age but don’t have enough work credits to apply for Social Security, it’s still possible to earn them. Check your my Social Security account to see how many credits you still need, then look for work that would allow you to make up those hours in the next few years. Once you reach 40 credits, you’ll be able to apply for your retirement benefits.

The Bottom Line

There are four different types of Social Security benefits, and the eligibility requirements and documents needed to apply for each kind differ slightly. Before you sit down to begin your application, be sure you have everything you will need to apply.

Remember, you have the right to representation and assistance throughout the application process, whether you are applying for Social Security benefits online or appealing an application that was rejected. If you need help applying for Social Security, reach out to the SSA, a financial advisor, or your local board of aging. There are many resources available to assist you with your application.