Ask Rusty: How do I apply for Social Security?

Dear Rusty: I just turned 65 years old in February 2025. I need to sign up for Social Security but don’t even know where to start. Signed: Seeking Assistance Dear Seeking Assistance: It’s fairly easy to sign up for your Social Security (SS) benefits, by either calling the Social Security Administration (SSA) at (800) 772-1213 or your local SS office, to make a telephone appointment to apply, or by completing your application for Social Security benefits online at www.ssa.gov/apply. However, to apply for benefits online you will need to first create your personal “my Social Security” account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Once you have your personal account set up, you can apply directly from that account and also see an estimate of your SS benefits at different ages. You may already be aware that age 65 is not your Social Security full retirement age (FRA). Your FRA is when you receive 100 percent of the benefit you have earned from a lifetime of working. By taking benefits at age 65, your monthly amount will be reduced (to about 87 percent of your FRA amount; a permanent reduction). Born in 1960, your FRA is age 67, which means you will be taking your SS benefit about two years early and also means that — if you are still working – you will be subject to Social Security’s Annual Earnings Test (AET). The AET limits how much you can earn before some of your benefits are taken away. For 2025, the annual earnings limit is $23,400 and, if that is exceeded, the SSA will take back $1 in benefits for every $2 you are over the limit (it takes benefits back by withholding future payments long enough to recover what you owe). So, you can apply for your Social Security benefits, as indicated above, either online or by calling the SSA for an appointment. Just be aware that by applying at age 65 your benefit will be permanently reduced, and you will be subject to Social Security’s earnings limit (the earnings limit lasts until you reach your FRA, after which you can earn as much as you like without penalty). Also, because you are 65, if you wish to enroll in Medicare, please be aware that you don’t need to take your Social Security benefits to enroll in Medicare. You can enroll in Medicare (only) by calling the SSA as explained above or enrolling in Medicare online. Here is a link that explains how to enroll in only Medicare: https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up. I hope this information is helpful, and please know that the AMAC Foundation is always available to answer your questions. If it’s easier, you can also speak directly to one of our certified Social Security advisors by calling us during normal business hours at (888) 750-2622. We cannot submit your SS application for you, but we can answer all questions you have about applying.    

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Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.  Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.