Qualify and Apply

If you were born in 1929 or later, you need to have worked for at least 10 years to be eligible for retirement benefits.

If you're eligible for retirement benefits, some members of your family also can receive benefits.

If you were born before 1938, your "full retirement age" is 65. Because of longer life expectancies, the full retirement age is 66 for people born in 1943-1954. It will gradually increase to 67 for people born in 1960 or later.

You can start your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive each month will be less than if you wait until full retirement age.

To find out how much you can collect at different ages, use our Retirement Estimator.

You should apply for benefits about three months before the date you want your benefits to start.

If you are not quite ready to retire, but are thinking about doing so in the near future, our Retirement Planner will help you prepare. If you plan to continue working after you reach age 62, it may be to your advantage to start your retirement benefits before you stop working.

Social Security dependents' benefits are payable for your unmarried children under age 18, or age 19 if they're still in high school, or to your children age 18 or older who were severely disabled before age 22 and who continue to be disabled.

Benefits can continue to be paid into adulthood if your child has a disability that began prior to age 22.

If you divorced after at least 10 years of marriage, you can collect retirement benefits on your former spouse's Social Security record if you are at least age 62 and your former spouse is entitled to or receiving benefits. In some situations, if you are at least age 62 and have been divorced from your former spouse for at least two years, you can receive benefits if he or she is eligible for retirement benefits but has not yet applied.

For more details, read If you are divorced.

If you need information about benefits your ex-spouse can receive based on your record, read Benefits for your divorced spouse.

Once you reach full retirement age, there is no limit on the amount you can earn while collecting Social Security benefits. Before full retirement age, your payments may be reduced depending on the amount you earn.

If you are getting Social Security benefits when you turn 65, your Medicare hospital benefits start automatically.

If you are not getting Social Security, you should sign up for Medicare close to your 65th birthday, even if you aren't ready to retire.

If you are a United States citizen, you can travel or live in most foreign countries without affecting your eligibility for Social Security benefits.

If you work outside the United States after you start receiving benefits, the rules about working after retirement may be different.