When to Apply for Social Security Benefits

Social Security is a government benefit every working American is entitled to receive. But it may be confusing as to when people should complete an application for benefits. There are several important guidelines that people must meet in order to apply. These guidelines help ease some of the confusion.

Qualifying for Benefits

The official site for Social Security benefits states that a person must be 61 years of age or older to apply for partial benefits; however, anyone is eligible depending on their unique circumstances. Spouses and children of anyone who worked in their lifetime and earned the benefits are also eligible. Other qualifications are:

• Wage earners who become ill or unable to work due to a disability.


• Dependent parent(s) of a wage earner who died.


• Disabled person.

Partial Benefits

Anyone who applies and receives Social Security benefits before the age of 62 receives partial benefits. Current partial amounts may change as Social Security rules and regulations change.

Retirement Age

Although people may apply for partial benefits at age 61 in order to receive them by age 62, some choose to continue working until they reach the full retirement age. The full retirement age depends on a person's year of birth. People must be aware that the full retirement age does change and may be greater by the time they retire from work.

For example:

• People born after 1960 currently receive benefits at 67 years of age.

At their full retirement age, applicants receive the entire amount they earned through work. This amount increases if the applicant chooses to apply several years after they reach the full retirement age.