When to Apply for Social Security Is an Individual Decision

2. How long do you expect to be employed?

If you are still working and your income allows you to make ends meet, delaying Social Security could be smart. A later filing means:

• A bigger monthly check in the future.
• No worries about a temporary benefit reduction of $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 in 2025 if you’re younger than full retirement age.
• No need to calculate federal income tax on your Social Security benefits if what the IRS calls your combined income — your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest and half of your Social Security benefits — hits $25,000 for one person or $32,000 for couples filing jointly.

However, if you lost your full-time job because of downsizing and are scraping by on gig work, you might decide to file even if you lock in a smaller monthly payment. In this scenario, you probably won’t have to worry about benefits being withheld as part of the Social Security earnings test.

3. Do you have other sources of income?

If you have an annuity, earnings from a side hustle or part-time job that you can live on, a healthy nest egg or a pension or a rental property, most financial planners advise holding off on applying for Social Security. That way, you can maximize your benefit.

4. How much will your spouse get in benefits?

If your spouse expects a small payout from Social Security, your earnings record could bump up the amount. This spousal benefit could be 32.5 to 50 percent of what you get from Social Security, depending on your mate’s age when filing.

The good news: Social Security will pay either that benefit or your partner’s retirement benefit, whichever is higher, without any special request.

The catch? You must have filed for retirement benefits for your spouse to be eligible.

5. What can a spouse expect in survivor benefits?

When a beneficiary dies, the surviving spouse and in some cases ex-spouse may be eligible to receive the deceased’s entire Social Security payment if it exceeds the survivor’s Social Security benefit. But a widow or widower won’t get two monthly checks. As with a spouse’s benefit, it will be the higher of the two amounts.

The surviving spouse can get reduced benefits at age 60, before eligibility for regular retirement benefits, and at any age if the survivor is caring for a child of the deceased who is younger than 16 or has a disability.

Add up your total financial picture

Creating a budget of your anticipated expenses and income in retirement should be part of the process.

AARP’s Social Security calculator can estimate what you’ll receive at the minimum filing age of 62, your full retirement age, and at 70, the age when you’ll get your maximum benefit. All you need to know is your date of birth, previous year’s salary and the same information for your spouse if you’re married.

The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) estimate of your benefits can be found online using your My Social Security account. If you’re 60 or older and haven’t signed up for an online account, you’ll receive a paper statement in the mail each year that estimates your monthly retirement benefit.

How to file for Social Security benefits

You can apply for retirement benefits three ways:

• To apply online, having a My Social Security account helps. The SSA website walks you through questions to prepare you. You can do it 24/7 and in multiple sessions. My Social Security will save your work so you can return to it later. As of July 2025, more than 63 percent of retirees in the past nine months had applied for benefits online, according to the SSA.
• To file in person, call the SSA at 800-772-1213 to make an appointment at your local Social Security office. If you don’t know where that is, use the agency’s office locator. The SSA now requires appointments for most office visits to reduce delays and had an average wait time of 35 days at midyear 2025.
• Over the phone. The hold time can be long, and some filers who are flagged as fraud risks will have to verify their identities at a Social Security office. The agency removed telephone wait time data from its website in May 2025 when the information showed delays of one hour and 46 minutes for callers on hold and callback lags of one hour and 44 minutes as of May 1.

This story, originally published April 16, 2025, was updated with statistics available in July 2025.

Contributing: Tracy Thompson

Related

• 10 things you need to know about Social Security
• 5 Social Security claiming options for couples
• 3 reasons to claim Social Security early (and 3 reasons to wait until 70)