Social Security

First, Find Out If You Are Eligible For Social Security Benefits

You can use our Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) to help identify all the different Social Security programs for which you may be eligible.

You Can Apply

• Online - Use our Social Security Retirement/Medicare Benefit Application to apply for retirement, spouse's or Medicare benefits.

• By phone - Call us at 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call us at TTY 1-800-325-0778.

• In person - Visit your local Social Security office. (Call first to make an appointment.)

• If you do not live in the U.S. or one of its territories you can also - Contact the nearest U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate.

When You Apply

Please be ready to supply the information we need to approve your application for these benefits:

• Retirement or Medicare
• Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's
• Child's

We may ask you to provide certain documents to show that you are eligible and help us decide how much your benefits should be. If you do not have a birth certificate, you may request one from the state where you were born. For details on where to write in your state, check Where to Write for Vital Records.

Also, bring along your bank information so you can sign up for Direct Deposit. If you do not have a bank account you can sign up for the Direct Express® card program. With Direct Express®, deposits from federal payments are made directly to the card.

Additional Information

Visit our:

• Other Retirement Planning Websites page for links to other websites with useful retirement planning information.

• Other Things To Consider page for a list of things you may want to consider before you decide when to retire.