You can start Social Security retirement payments as early as age 62 by applying online at ssa.gov, by phone, or in person at a local Social Security office. The online application is the fastest route and takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete. But before you apply, the timing you choose has a permanent effect on how much you’ll receive each month, so it’s worth understanding your options first.
When You Can Start Collecting
The earliest you can begin retirement benefits is age 62, but starting that early means a smaller monthly check for life. The amount you receive depends on how your claiming age compares to your “full retirement age,” which is based on the year you were born.
If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. Claiming at 62 instead of 67 reduces your benefit by 30%. For someone entitled to $2,000 a month at full retirement age, that’s a permanent drop to about $1,400. The reduction is slightly smaller for people born between 1955 and 1959, whose full retirement age falls between 66 and 2 months and 66 and 10 months.
On the other side, if you delay past your full retirement age, your benefit grows by roughly 8% per year until age 70. Waiting from 67 to 70 would bump that $2,000 monthly benefit to about $2,480. After 70, there’s no additional increase, so there’s no financial reason to delay beyond that point.
The right age to claim depends on your health, your savings, whether you’re still working, and whether a spouse will eventually collect benefits based on your record. There’s no single correct answer, but the math strongly favors waiting if you’re in good health and can cover expenses from other sources in the meantime.
How to Apply
You can apply up to four months before the month you want benefits to begin. In your application, you’ll choose an enrollment month, and your first payment arrives the month after the one you pick.
Online: The most common method. Go to ssa.gov and use the online retirement application. You’ll need a my Social Security account to sign in. The application walks you through your work history, benefit choices, and direct deposit setup.
By phone: Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to apply or schedule an appointment. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They can walk you through the application over the phone.
In person: Visit your local Social Security office. Calling ahead to make an appointment will save you time and help avoid any gap in benefits. If you live outside the United States, you can contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate instead.
Documents You’ll Need
Social Security may ask you to provide several documents during the application process. Gather these before you start:
- Social Security card or a record of your number
- Birth certificate: the original or a certified copy from the issuing agency (photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted)
- Proof of citizenship or lawful status if you were not born in the U.S., again as an original or agency-certified copy with a current expiration date
- Military service papers if you served before 1968 (photocopies are fine for this one)
- W-2 or self-employment tax return from last year (photocopies accepted)
If you’ve already provided proof of age or citizenship for a prior Social Security or Medicare claim, you won’t need to submit those documents again. For the online application, you may not need to upload anything at all if SSA already has your records on file, but it’s smart to have everything ready in case they request verification.
Working While Collecting Benefits
You can work and receive Social Security at the same time, but if you haven’t reached full retirement age, earning too much will temporarily reduce your payments. This is called the earnings test, and it trips up a lot of people who start benefits early while still employed.
In 2026, if you’re under full retirement age for the entire year, Social Security withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above $24,480. So if you earn $34,480 (that’s $10,000 over the limit), you’d lose $5,000 in benefits that year.
The rules are more generous in the calendar year you reach full retirement age. During that year, the threshold jumps to $65,160, and SSA only withholds $1 for every $3 over the limit. It also only counts earnings from the months before you hit full retirement age, not the entire year.
Once you reach full retirement age, the earnings test disappears entirely. You can earn any amount without affecting your benefit. It’s also worth knowing that only wages, bonuses, commissions, and self-employment income count toward the limit. Investment income, pensions, and veterans benefits do not.
One important detail: money withheld through the earnings test isn’t gone forever. When you reach full retirement age, SSA recalculates your benefit to credit you for months when payments were reduced or withheld, which results in a higher monthly amount going forward.
When Your First Payment Arrives
Your first Social Security payment arrives the month after your chosen enrollment month. If you pick June as your enrollment month, expect your first deposit in July. The specific day of the month your payment lands depends on your birth date. SSA staggers payments across three different days each month based on whether your birthday falls on the 1st through the 10th, the 11th through the 20th, or the 21st through the 31st.
Since you can apply up to four months before your enrollment month, filing early gives SSA plenty of time to process everything without delaying your first check. If you wait until the last minute and paperwork takes longer than expected, your first payment could slip.
Choosing Direct Deposit
SSA strongly encourages direct deposit, and the application will ask for your bank account and routing numbers. If you don’t have a bank account, you can receive benefits on a prepaid debit card called the Direct Express card. Paper checks are largely being phased out, so setting up electronic payments during your application is the simplest path. Have a bank statement or voided check handy when you apply so you can enter the numbers accurately.