What do I have to take with me when I file for Social Security Retirement benefits?When you file for Social Security retirement, you will need to bring a certified copy of your birth certificate simply due to the fact that your retirement benefit is based on your age. If you are married and plan to file on the record of your spouse, or if you plan to apply for a survivor benefit based on the record of a deceased spouse, you should bring the relevant marriage certificate. If you are divorced and plan to file for benefits on the record of a divorced spouse you should bring a certified copy of your divorce certificate. Regarding earnings, you may wish to bring your tax return to verify your earnings for the previous year, so that any earnings discrepancies can be corrected at the time of the interview. Regarding prior military service, you should bring your DD 214 to prove your military service dates, since military service may increase your benefit. Lastly, you should also be prepared to provide information about your marriages and spouses. And be prepared to state your intentions with regard to work activity (are you working now?, are you going to retire?, or will you be continuing to work?). Return to: Additional Social Security Retirement Questions |
