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Before you begin to apply for Social Security benefits, you should review the Social Security website to determine what types of benefits are available and which you might qualify for.

Social Security was primarily created to provide retirement benefits to workers, but the program has grown significantly and now Social Security provides disability benefits, death benefits and other family benefits in addition to retirement benefits.

To determine what Social Security benefits you may qualify for, Social Security offers the BEST screening tool. With this tool you can determine whether you qualify for Medicare, Social Security disability, Social Security retirement, survivor benefits, unique veterans benefits, or supplemental security income (SSI). Be prepared to answer questions such as your date of birth, how much you have earned during your working years and other information about your personal finances. This information is necessary to determine which benefits (if any) you may be entitled to.

When you've determined what benefits you may qualify for, how do you apply for Social Security benefits?

The Social Security administration offers several ways to apply for Social Security. You can apply online at ssa.gov, by visiting your local Social Security office, or by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.

The online Social Security application can be used to apply for retirement or spousal benefits, or to get Medicare. To apply for retirement benefits you must be at least 61 years and 9 months old. You must also plan on starting your benefits in the next four months. Finally you need to live in the United States (or territories) to use the online application. In case you are close to age 65, you will apply for Medicare at the same time that you apply for Social Security retirement benefits.

When applying for benefits, you will be asked many questions about your age, your work history and other personal finance data. You should have the following documents available before you start the online application:

- Your birth certificate

- Your citizenship or naturalization papers (if applicable)

- your military service documents (if applicable)

- your W-2 forms or self employment tax return for the last tax year.

In addition, you should be prepared to provide the following information:

- your birth-date and place of birth

- your Social Security number

- your bank account and routing number (if you are requesting direct deposit for your benefits)

- how much you earned the last two years, and your employer's name and address

- information about your military service

- information about your current and any former spouses, including name, Social Security number and date of birth (or age if you don't know the birth-date)

- your earnings history from your most recent Social Security statement

If you are applying for Social Security retirement benefits, you should carefully decide the best time to apply. While you may collect Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, that may not be the best time to apply. Your benefits will vary substantially based on when you apply, and your decision on when to apply could impact your family.

If you want to know how much you can expect to receive from Social Security, but you are not ready to apply for benefits yet, the Social Security website provides several calculators to help you estimate your retirement benefit.

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