To collect Social Security at 62, you must apply online at ssa.gov/apply (or ssa.gov/retire), have earned at least 40 work credits (about 10 years of work), and understand that benefits are permanently reduced by roughly 25-30% because you're starting before your full retirement age (FRA), with the exact amount depending on your birth year. You can apply up to four months before your desired start month, but your first payment comes the month after your benefits begin.
You can apply: Online; or. By calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office. Call ahead to make an appointment.
The earliest you can apply for retirement benefits is four months before you want your benefits to start. If you want your benefits to start more than four months in the future, you need to apply for benefits at a later date. If you are already age 62, your benefits could start as early as this month.
You can apply for Social Security as early as four months before you want benefits to start, with the first payment arriving the month after your chosen start month, typically around 3-6 weeks after approval, though it can vary; expect your first check a month or so after you turn 62 if you apply right at the earliest time, but remember starting at 62 means permanently reduced benefits compared to your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which is 67 for most people now.
To avoid delays due to processing time, SSA encourages workers to contact an SSA office 2-3 months before reaching age 62 (SSA 1997A, paragraph 1503), and workers may file applications before the first month in which they are entitled.
You can apply for Social Security up to four months before you want your retirement benefits to start, with the earliest age being 62, meaning you can apply as soon as you're 61 and nine months old, though payments usually begin the month after you turn 62, so applying in March for a June birthday allows payments to start in July. The actual process involves choosing your start month on the Social Security website, and benefits are reduced for starting before your full retirement age.
Line up post-retirement health care
You won't be able to start Medicare until age 65, so if you're retiring at age 62, you'll need to line up an alternative. Some may opt to move abroad for a low-cost plan or even use COBRA, but most will want to access a state-based health care plan.
Overall, most people feel that applying for social security benefits online is a much more convenient option than applying in person. The process is straightforward and easy to follow, and you can complete it at any time that is convenient for you.
To apply for Social Security retirement, you'll need your Social Security number, proof of age (like your original birth certificate or a certified copy), proof of U.S. citizenship/lawful alien status if born abroad, military service papers (DD-214 for service before 1968), and W-2s or self-employment tax returns for the previous year, plus bank details for direct deposit, and spousal/children's info if applicable, with originals often required for age/citizenship documents.
What to Do Six Months Before Retirement: Checklist
Yes, you generally need to make an appointment to visit a local Social Security office for in-person help, as this has been the standard policy since early 2025 to improve efficiency, but you should first check ssa.gov/appointment or call them, as many common tasks (like applying for benefits or getting a replacement card) can be done online or by phone, potentially saving you a trip. While appointments are required for in-person service, you can schedule them online or by calling their National 800 Number, and they aim to serve everyone, even walk-ins, though appointments reduce wait times.
Among the biggest mistakes retirees make is not adjusting their expenses to their new budget in retirement. Those who have worked for many years need to realize that dining out, clothing and entertainment expenses should be reduced because they are no longer earning the same amount of money as they were while working.
If you were to see $3,000 per month by waiting until you are 70 to claim your benefits, you would only receive $1,700 per month by claiming early. If you visit the Social Security website and create an account, you can get an estimate of what your benefits would be at different ages.
Dave Ramsey has said to take Social Security at 62. Ramsey has argued that you can invest the money once you start claiming it. There are benefits to doing this, including the fact that Social Security's benefits formula aims to equalize out lifetime benefits.
Once you have decided when you want to start receiving your monthly Social Security benefit, you can apply up to four months before the date you want your benefits to start. Visit www.ssa.gov/retire to apply. For more information, read our publication, When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits (Publication No.
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When should I apply? The earliest you can apply for Social Security retirement benefits is four months before the month you want your benefits to start, and the earliest your benefits can start is your first full month as a 62-year-old.
At least one to two years before you retire: Get to know your retirement income sources, including all retirement, bank, and brokerage accounts, plus other sources of income (such as Social Security, pensions, annuities, or HSA accounts).
The $1,000 a month rule is a retirement guideline suggesting you need about $240,000 saved for every $1,000 per month in desired income, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate (5% of $240k is $12k/year, or $1k/month). It's a simple way to set savings goals, but it doesn't account for inflation, taxes, or other income like Social Security, so it's best used as a starting point, not a complete plan.