How do I apply for Social Security or Medicare?
Last updated Jul 19, 2026
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward
Published by Senior Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0
You can apply for Social Security retirement, disability, spousal, or Medicare benefits online at ssa.gov (using a free my Social Security account), by calling SSA's national toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or in person at a local field office (appointments recommended). People turning 65 can file an online Medicare-only application even if they are not ready to claim Social Security. Dollar thresholds tied to claiming decisions (earnings-test limits, Medicare premiums and deductibles) change every year, so check current-year figures at ssa.gov and medicare.gov.
What the government has said, on the record
“Our employees are dedicated to providing customers with the information they need to make a well-informed decision about claiming Social Security benefits and enrolling in Medicare. They assist the public in a variety of ways, such as through face-to-face interaction in a field office, by telephone (including our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213), in response to online applications, and by mail. ... This level of information is important because the majority of retirement claims are filed online (in 2017, about 53 percent of retirement applications were filed online)”
— Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications, Social Security Administration (highest known office), U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, hearing "Turning 65: Navigating Critical Decisions to Age Well", 2018-01-24 (source)
Editor's note: historical figure - "about 53 percent" of retirement applications filed online is a 2017 statistic (share is higher today); the 800 number quoted is still SSA's current national number
Who said this
Jim Borland — Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications, Social Security Administration (highest known office) (current).
Also asked as
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Last verified: 2026-07-18