How to file for Social Security without losing thousands in retirement benefits
The U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) says first-time claimants should file for retirement benefits on the internet, as the online application process is typically the most efficient way to sign up for monthly payments.
How do I file for Social Security retirement benefits online?
A benefit with around 58 million recipients across the U.S., Social Security retirement pay is available to workers who are 62 years old or above and have contributed payroll taxes for at least 10 years. You can apply up to four months before your chosen month of enrollment.
Your opening payment then arrives the month after you become a beneficiary.
For example, if you want to get your first retirement payment in May 2027, you can start your application from December 2026, choosing April 2027 as your enrollment month. For further information on how to time your application, check out this online SSA tool.
While there are certain cases in which the SSA does not allow online applications, it is the “easiest” method for most claimants, the agency says. To apply online, you’ll need to log into the SSA’s “my Social Security” online portal, or create an account here.
You can then fill out your online application on this page, where you’ll also find a list of the information you will need to provide.
[embedded content]
What other ways are there to apply?
You can also apply for retirement benefits by telephone at 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting a Social Security office. However, online filing is the “fastest, most convenient way”, the SSA insists.
In this handbook on how to apply via the internet, the SSA explains: “You can start your [online] application immediately. There is no need to schedule an appointment. You can apply from the convenience of your home or office using your preferred device. You can avoid trips to a Social Security office, saving you time and money.”
“That is $2,400 you do not recover”
As the financial journalist Gerelyn Terzo notes in an article for 24/7 Wall St., applying in-person is particularly vulnerable to delays, given the need to make an appointment before visiting a Social Security office. “Those meetings are often booked one to two months out,” Terzo warns.
Since applications typically take several weeks to review once submitted, a long wait for an appointment increases the risk that the process could drag on beyond a claimant’s desired enrollment month. That outcome, in turn, leads to lost benefits.
“If your […] benefit is $2,400 a month and you lose a single month of payments to processing delays, that is $2,400 you do not recover,” Terzo says.
[embedded content]
How much are Social Security retirement benefits?
As of September 2026, the average retired worker qualified for a monthly Social Security payment of $2,088.79, according to SSA statistics. This average amount is set to rise by about $75 in 2027, when the SSA applies a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment to benefits.
Although you can start claiming retirement after you turn 62, you’ll be eligible for a higher monthly benefit if you wait until a later age before applying. Indeed, your benefits entitlement can drop by up to 30% if you don’t hold off until what’s known as ‘full retirement age’ (FRA). For anyone born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67.
You can also delay filing for retirement beyond your FRA, up to a maximum age of 70. If you choose this option, you can boost your FRA entitlement by as much as 30%. Find out more about how your retirement age affects your benefit by using this calculator on the SSA website.
[embedded content]
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.