You can now apply for retirement benefits online at the Social Security Administration website. The application takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and has several advantages:

Quick to complete. Submitted immediately. Faxing or mailing of signatures and documentation not required.

The application for retirement benefits asks for the following information: contact information, social security number, work history, military service (if applicable), and date benefits are to start. The site offers a feature that allows you to save and pause your application if needed. Once submitted, you will be sent a confirmation that your application has been received.

Visitors can find additional resources at the Social Security Administration website. You can get an estimate of your retirement benefits, determine your retirement age, and estimate your life expectancy. There are also retirement planning tools and other resources.