I waited until a month after I turned 66, but in retrospect, I wish I had applied earlier. Yes. the $$ might be slightly less but then you are collecting for a longer period of time, so it can pretty much be a wash.

So, go and check out the site. On line registration is definitely available.

Otherwise, it’s a wash or a win.

is another 20 years if you're male, 22 if you're female.

Chances are you will lose a lot.

On the other hand, if you currently have some sort of genuinely life-shortening condition, those numbers aren't correct for you.

Losing a job in your late fifties in a time of rampant ageism in the job market sort of cuts down your options. Being overqualified exacerbates things.

I did it all online. I did get a phone call to confirm a bunch of facts after a week or so. I have never been to the SS office in person.

started..

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/

Be well, stay safe...

It took about 15 minutes.

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/

It's been since 2012, so my memory isn't great, but I believe I filed for it online. I have absolutely no memory of actually going in person to an office. Good luck.

Any gap in coverage adds a penalty to your premiums. My late wife and I went in a year in advance for information and were glad we did.

I just realized you're not going to get Medicare. Forget this until you're 65.

PS For anyone with a Green Card you have to apply in person.

But, if you call, prepare to wait on hold.

IIRC, you need the social security card, photo id, and proof of citizenship/residence, like a birth certificate, passport, passport card. www.ssa.gov should have all the requirements. Driver license is not enough.

I thought you could apply four months in advance, so Monday would be a good time to start. Make the call, put in on speakerphone, make some coffee, get a good book.

Good luck.

changed. I went to the SS office 90 days before. I was asked why I was so early. The guy said if we turn it in this early the paper work will end up lost delaying your payment. He said come back or do it on line around your birthday. So I did it on line in early April on my birthday. I received my first check in May right on time. I retired at 62 myself and have never regretted it. Hey you wait until you are 65 you could be dead or unable to enjoy your retirement.
Happy retirement.

I remember sending it in and they sent it back.

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/applying5.html]



https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/forms/]

I signed up at 62 and it was trouble free.
UNTIL.
I work, and plan to continue to work for as long as I can (although I'm in my second month of quarantine right now).
I turned 62 in October of that year, and I received checks for November and December that year. 5 and a half years ago.
Everything fine.
UNTIL.

6 months ago, I received a letter from SSA, stating that in the year I applied, I made too much money. They said I had done nothing wrong. They also said they DEMAND IMMEDIATE REPAYMENT TO THEM OF OVER $3000! To cover my November and December checks that year.

So they wait 5 years to inform me of this. I had to make a deal with them, where they now take out $75 a month from my check until the "debt" is paid off. Because no way was I paying out $3000 cash to them!

So just be cautious if you're still working. There was no way I could have known in October how much money I was going to make for the year, I'm self employed, money comes when it comes, and sometimes doesn't come at all. They didn't care.

Still, even my reduced check is CRUCIAL to me, anyone who says get rid of Social Security is an Enemy of the People!

In my case, they were very helpful and the wait wasn't terrible. I'm glad I did it because I got all my questions answered and things were explained well. But, if you're savvy enough, online would be OK.

Make an account with mySocialSecurity. You will need docs later and with an account, you can get them in minutes.

And you can apply right from the account you just created good luck.

I did all three. My income is a combination of withdraw from IRA/403B, plus a little self-employment, and W-2.

I phoned in to SSA and was still not sure what to write down for the incomes so I made an appointment with local office. Had a very nice interview and finished right there. I found everyone to be very helpful.

BTW - I went early to SS and never looked back. I did a computation and discovered how much I'd have to liquidate in next few years, and that the breakeven was around age 80. Given my family's shortish life times, I decided I'd rather take SS than liquidate that large amount!

that have recently been laid off their jobs. Expect wait times in applying and processing, as this AP news article states.

Almost all businesses and govt. agencies are working slow now due to closures and low staff, as you likely know.

This said, I have not applied to SS myself but just so you're aware of current conditions.

Good luck. https://democraticunderground.com/1261639

Dang, I hope I have time to read all the good posts I’m kicking.

Good stuff today, DU!

The agent reviewed a couple things with me, one was about my son who had turned 18 before I filed. I think I filed in May and when I talked to them he was already graduating. They sent me a letter later on and it sounded like maybe he could get a couple months worth of benefits even though he was 18 while he was still in school. They hadn’t made that clear at the time. But the letter said since he wa 18 he should contact the SS office so I passed in the info to him. I know he tried calling and decided he would have to go down to the office which he hasn’t done yet. I pester him once in awhile. He’s in college now and I’m sure a month or two of benefits would help him out. But of course right now everything is screwed up.

No problem. Go to the Social Security website and read up on it 1st , this will make it much easier. Good luck.

We did end up calling because of a password snafu that was our fault, very nice person helped. It took us longer than 15 minutes, but less than 1 hour. Good luck.

Did mine by phone.

Been regular deposits since 11/2009 Wow it's been 10 years, womp, womp.

Enjoy!

take it as soon as you can while you still have some health to enjoy the money. Age can be a cruel animal that sneaks up on you. The older you get the less you can do. Why have more dollars in your pocket if you can't enjoy it for one health reason or another? At age 62 I could still go walk on the beach, fish from a boat, travel and enjoy good food - now, not so much. And both my wife and I took SS at 62 and now, 17 years later, don't regret getting it later.

Take it and enjoy yourself.

Well, I did the typing while he sat around and watched. We did get one phone call verifying some info, then the agent insisted on talking to me. It turned out that since I do not qualify for Social Security, I get part of his benefits.

My husband is very happy he retired early. The stress at his job could have killed him by now. He's much healthier and happier without going back to that place.

especially the revelation that I can do this online! Have a great day!