Social Security

For most Americans, Social Security is the base of their financial protection when income is lost due to disability, retirement or death. Benefits from the government-provided piece of your overall retirement benefits are not paid automatically to you. Application for your Social Security benefits should be made three months before you become eligible. For example, if you plan to retire November 1 and you are over the age of 62, you should apply for your Social Security benefits in July.

You will be required to provide Social Security with the following information:

• Your Social Security card or a record of your number
• Evidence of earnings for the last two years (W-2 forms preferred)
• Proof of your date of birth

You can Contact Social Security at:

Social Security Administration
Office of Public Inquiries
Windsor Park Building
6401 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21235

Social Security has a toll-free number that operates from 7AM to 7PM, Monday to Friday: 1-800-772-1213. If you have a touch-tone phone, recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

http://www.ssa.gov/