Business & Finance Personal Finance

How Do I Acquire Social Security Benefits?

    Required Information

    • Before you can submit your Social Security benefits application, you'll need to gather the supporting information that the SSA requires. You'll need your birth certificate, Social Security earnings statement, Social Security card, recent W-2 forms and military discharge records. If you're a naturalized citizen, you'll need to refer to your naturalization documents.

      You must also provide the name and address of your employer for the current and previous years and the names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers for current and former spouses. If you'll be using direct deposit to receive Social Security checks, you must provide your bank's routing transit number and your bank account number.

    Completing the Application Online

    • If you choose to register for Social Security benefits online, you'll complete several screens that require that you enter your name, address, date of birth and other identifying information (see Resources). You'll be asked to provide information on your earnings for the current and previous years. Applicants who register for benefits September through December must provide an estimate of the next year's earnings, according to the SSA. After you complete the application, you'll click on the "Sign Now" button. Clicking on this button is the Internet equivalent of providing your signature on a paper form.

    Other Ways to Apply

    • You can also register for retirement benefits over the telephone or by making an appointment at an SSA office. When you first call the SSA, you'll be given a telephone appointment time; you must call back at this time to provide the information needed for your application.

    Considerations

    • If you complete your application on the Internet or on the telephone, you'll still need to mail certain documents to the SSA, including W-2 forms, military records, and birth and death certificates if any of your spouses have died. You'll see a mailing address and list of the documents that must be mailed when you reach the end of the online application. The original documents will be returned to you after they're reviewed by the SSA.

      When you mail documents to the SSA, include a separate piece of paper that contains your Social Security number. Don't write this number on any of the documents. If you would rather not mail documents, you can personally deliver them to your local Social Security office. The SSA website contains a Social Security Office Locator feature that will help you find the nearest office (see Resources).

      Foreign birth records or any documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security should not be mailed because it can be difficult to replace these items if they're lost. Bring them to a Social Security office instead.

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