Are you ready to ask for Social Security benefits? Have you made your retirement plan, executed the various scenarios, and decided that now is the time? Unfortunately, Social Security offices were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, so you can not just go in and discuss it with an adviser. However, there are several other ways to claim your benefits, and they are much simpler than walking into an office.
Fortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides all services by phone or online. It’s the easiest way to do it online, but if you have trouble navigating the site, 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 proof
First sign up for an account and check your latest Social Security statement. This allows you to know the amount of benefit you are 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 have earned in your life. If that information is incorrect, you may not receive the full amount you are entitled to.
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Step 2: Collect your documents
When applying for benefits, you generally need the following documents:
- Your birth certificate
- Proof of your US citizenship
- A copy of your U.S. military service card (s) when you served in the Army before 1968
- A copy of your W-2 form (s) and / or your tax return for last year if you were self-employed
- Your card for social security
They can also request the following information, so make sure you have it:
- Your date and place of birth
- Name of your partner, date of birth, and Social Security number and information about your previous marriages. They can even ask for the date and location you were married to, and the dates of each divorce or death.
- The names of your children
- If you have previously applied for Social Security Benefits, Medicare, or Supplemental Income for Security (SSI)
This is the pandemic era, however, that you cannot go to the SSA office with your documents. If you are submitting online or by phone, you only need it information on these documents. When calling, make sure you have this information in one place so you can easily pass it on to your representative.
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Step 3: Decide if you want to submit online or over the phone
The easiest way to claim benefits is to use the online application process. According to the website Social Security: “[A]filing 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 are not comfortable with the internet to submit, you can make an appointment to submit by phone at 800-772-1213. (If you are a listener, you can call 800-325-0778.) The phones will be checked Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the time of your appointment, the representative will call you. Don’t worry if the call is too late – social security reps, like the rest of us, often run behind schedule.
You need to submit one or two months before you want benefits to begin, but if you are the care type, you can do so up to three or four months in advance. It takes some time to process the paperwork; by launching your application a few months early, you can fix any problems that may arise without it interfering with your start date.
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Step 4: Fill out the application
During pre-pandemic days, you could just walk to the Social Security office and fill out an application. However, since offices are closed, you can do so online.
If you start by filling out the application form but find it too confusing or complicated, call the office and set up a telephone appointment. During the call, the Social Security representative will fill out the form for you.
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Step 5, the last step: Get your benefits
Voila … you’re ready! After you submit, you will receive a letter in the email telling you how much you will receive each month. If you already receive Medicare through immediate withdrawal from your bank account, you do not have to do that anymore – the monthly Medicare fee is deducted directly from your benefits.
In general, Social Security checks are paid on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of each month, but the day you receive them depends on your date of birth, according to the following schedule:
- If you were born between the 1st and the 10th, you will receive the check on the second Wednesday.
- If you were born between the 11th and 20th, the third Wednesday.
- If you were born between 21 and 31, the fourth Wednesday.
It is easier than ever to apply for Social Security during the pandemic, whether online or by phone. Once you do that, sit back and wait until the money is deposited directly into your account and start enjoying your retirement. You earned every penny of it!
