Are you ready to apply
for Social Security benefits? Have you made your retirement plan, run the different scenarios,
and decided that now's the time? Unfortunately, Social Security offices are
closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, so you can't just walk in and discuss it
with a counselor. There are, however, several other ways to claim your
benefits, and they're much simpler than walking into an office.
Luckily, the Social
Security Administration (SSA) is performing all services via telephone or
online. It's easiest to do it online, but if you're having difficulty
navigating the website, you can make an appointment with a Social Security
representative for a telephone consultation. Here are five steps to guide you
through the process.
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Step 1: Do an information review
First, sign up for
an account and review your latest Social Security statement.
That will let you know the amount of benefit you're eligible for. Review your
earnings history to make sure everything is accurate. This is important,
because your benefit amount is based on how much you've earned over your
lifetime. If that information is wrong, you may not get the full amount you're
entitled to.
Step 2: Gather your documents
When you're applying for
benefits, you generally need the following documents:
·
Your birth certificate
·
Proof of your U.S. citizenship
·
A copy of your U.S. military service paper(s) if you served in
the military before 1968
·
A copy of your W-2 form(s) and/or your tax return for last year
if you were self-employed
·
Your Social Security card
They also may request the
following information, so make sure you have it:
·
Your date and place of birth
·
Your spouse's name, birth date, and Social Security number and
information about your former spouses. They may even ask for the date and
location at which you got married, and the dates of any divorce or death.
·
The names of your children
·
If you've previously applied for Social Security benefits,
Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
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This is the pandemic era,
however, so you can't go into the SSA office with your documents. If you file
online or via telephone, you'll only need the information on
these documents. If you call, make sure you have this information in one spot
so you can easily give them to your representative.
Step 3: Decide if you want to file online or
over the telephone
The easiest way to apply
for benefits is to use the online application process. According to the
Social Security website: "(A)pplying for Retirement/Medicare may take
between 10 to 30 minutes to complete depending on your situation. You can
save your application as you go, so you can take a break at any time."
If your situation is
complicated or you're uncomfortable using the internet to file, you can make an
appointment to file via telephone by calling 800-772-1213. (If you're hearing
impaired, you can call 800-325-0778.) The phones are monitored Monday through
Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the time of your appointment, the representative
will call you. Don't be concerned if the call is late – Social Security reps,
like the rest of us, often run behind schedule.
You should file one or
two months before you want benefits to begin, but if you're the worrying type,
you can do it up to three or four months before. It takes a little time to
process the paperwork; by putting in your application a few months early, you
can fix any problems that come up without it interfering with your starting
date.
Step 4: Fill out the application
During pre-pandemic days,
you could just walk into the Social Security office and fill out an
application. Since offices are closed, however, you can do
it online.
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If you start to complete
the application form but find that it's too confusing or complicated, call the
agency and set up a phone appointment. During the call, the Social Security
representative will fill out the form for you.
Step 5, the final step: Get your benefits
Voila... you're done!
After you file, you'll receive a letter in the mail that tells you how much
you'll receive each month. If you're already receiving Medicare through direct
withdrawal from your bank account, you no longer need to do that -- the monthly
Medicare fee will be deducted directly from your benefits.
In general, Social
Security checks are paid on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of every
month, but the day you'll receive yours is dependent on your birth date,
according to the following schedule:
·
If you were born between the 1st and the 10th, you'll receive
the check on the second Wednesday.
·
If you were born between the 11th and 20th, the third Wednesday.
·
If you were born between the 21st and 31st, the fourth
Wednesday.
It's easier than ever to
apply for Social Security during the pandemic either online or via phone. Once
you do, sit back and wait for the money to be directly deposited in your
account and begin enjoying your retirement. You've earned every penny of it!
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