Social Security: A Simple Concept

What You Need To Know About Social Security While You Are Working

What You Need To Know About Benefits

Benefits For Your Family

When You Are Ready To Apply For Benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program

Right To Appeal

Medicare

When you are ready to apply for benefits

You should apply for benefits about three months before the date you want your benefits to start. If you are not quite ready to retire, but are thinking about doing so in the near future, you may want to visit Social Security’s website to use their convenient and informative retirement planner. To file for disability or survivors benefits, you should apply as soon as you are eligible.

What you will need to apply

When you apply for benefits, they will ask you to provide certain documents. The documents they will ask for depend on the type of benefits you are filing for. Providing these documents to them quickly will help them pay your benefits faster. You must submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing office—they cannot accept photocopies.

Do not delay filing an application just because you do not have all of the documents you need. They will help you get them.

Here is a list of some documents you may need when you sign up for Social Security:

• Your Social Security card (or a record
   of your number);

• Your birth certificate;

• Your children’s birth certificates and
   Social Security numbers (if you are
   applying for them);

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful
   immigration status if you (or a child)
   were not born in the United States;

• Your spouse’s birth certificate and
   Social Security number if he or she is
   applying for benefits based on your
   earnings;

• Marriage certificate (if signing up on a spouse’s earnings or if your spouse is signing up on your earnings);

• Your military discharge papers if you had military service; and

• Your most recent W-2 form, or your tax return, if you are self-employed.

They will let you know if other documents are needed when you apply. How benefits are paid

Social Security benefits generally are paid by direct deposit. Direct deposit is a simple, safe and secure way to receive your benefits. Be sure to have your checkbook or account statement with you when you apply. They will need that information to make sure your monthly benefit is correctly deposited into your account.

If you do not want direct deposit, they will make other arrangements to pay your monthly benefits.